A new article considers the evolutionary function of stigma and how, in modern society, it backfires for individual and public health: Stigmatization may have once served to protect early humans from infectious diseases, but that strategy may do more harm than good for modern humans, according to Penn State researchers. “The things that made stigmas a … Continue reading The evolutionary function of stigma
Author: Jason Schwartz
I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I currently serve as the Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care for a healthcare system. I've also served as the Director of Behavioral Health at another hospital. I'm also a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work.
Views expressed here are my own.
Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.
Mad in America
Robert Whitaker reports on another study associating long term antipsychotic use with worse outcomes and more psychotic symptoms. We can see that this body of evidence stretches over 50 years and that it tells a consistent story. The worry that antipsychotics might increase the risk of relapse showed up in the NIMH’s very first one-year … Continue reading Mad in America
How to support recovery and not addiction – from the Dawn Farm Education Series
When all else has failed – what does work when confronted with a loved one’s addiction? What does not work? What can others do to help? What does not help? What role does an individual play in supporting another person’s recovery process? These and other questions will be addressed in order to assist participants to … Continue reading How to support recovery and not addiction – from the Dawn Farm Education Series
Graduate diabetes care? That would be crazy!
Bill White on the biggest barrier to better addiction treatment in the US. Our acute care (AC) approach: This AC model works well with acute trauma, and it can play a role for many in addiction recovery initiation and stabilization. Unfortunately, it does not work well with the treatment of addictions of high severity, complexity … Continue reading Graduate diabetes care? That would be crazy!
Long term ignorance
Keith Humphreys laments the short term focus of the evidence base for medications. . . . the evidence base is almost useless for answering questions about the long-term costs and benefits of opioid medications. In the 41 randomized clinical trials that Furlan et al. review, the impact of the medication was evaluated for an average … Continue reading Long term ignorance
A terrible loss for Dawn Farm and the field
Last night (Wednesday), Pat Gibbons, Dawn Farm's Medical Director and psychiatrist died suddenly. We're stunned. He was just at Spera on Tuesday night seeing clients. It's a terrible loss for Dawn Farm and our community. Any words I can come up with feel entirely inadequate, but here goes. He was a model of the power … Continue reading A terrible loss for Dawn Farm and the field
Crack initiates plummet
At present, no more than about 200 young people start using crack-cocaine each day. Ten years ago, the corresponding estimated daily rate was 1000. (source) (hat tip: Marginal Revolution)
The evidence-base for 12 step recovery
There's a fresh round of attacks on AA as pseudo-science in need of sober debunking. All based on one book that is getting impressive publicity. The book may contain references to support its attacks, but the interviews and articles do not. The absolute language ("everyone" and "never") hint that this may not be the objective analysis it's reported … Continue reading The evidence-base for 12 step recovery
Not evidence-based for recovery
Abstinence-oriented treatment has taken a beating in the media recently. There have been lots of assertions that medication maintenance approaches are THE evidence-based approaches and that abstinence-based approaches lack evidence and kill addictions. We know this isn't true and have posted repeatedly on the subject. Right on time, Drug and Alcohol Findings reviews a recently … Continue reading Not evidence-based for recovery
Chemical Dependency & The Family – from the Dawn Farm Education Series
This program will provide participants with a basic understanding of how addiction impacts each member of a family. The About the presenter will describe the roles and behaviors that family members often acquire when living with addiction, ways in which each family member is affected by addiction in the family, and options for family members … Continue reading Chemical Dependency & The Family – from the Dawn Farm Education Series
Recovery Review 