This 90% statistic has been frequently cited to discredit specialty addiction treatment. Ninety percent of those who enter addiction-treatment programs in the U.S. don’t receive evidence-based treatment I asked David Scheff about it several weeks back. He said it was from RAND and referred me to his book. I looked in his book and couldn't … Continue reading Anti-treatment zombie stats
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.
cures backed with commercials
NPR shares one recovering woman's story: Doctors sent me to specialists, whose cures were backed with commercials, free pens and a 30-day supply free from the sample drawer. The doctor at the chronic pain clinic assured my mom that I'd be closely monitored and that pharmaceutical use was documented and safe. "Methadone is for heroin … Continue reading cures backed with commercials
Waiting for Breaking Good?
Bill White shares his perspective on what the media misses in coverage of drug and alcohol problems. 3. The media mistakenly conflate recovery with active addiction and addiction treatment with addiction recovery. 4. Media outlets portray addiction recovery as an exception to the rule. 5. Media coverage of drug-related celebrity mayhem … Continue reading Waiting for Breaking Good?
More on Zohydro
Keith Humphreys on the release of Zohydro: First, whereas Vicodin (which also contains hydrocodone) is prescribed in pills ranging from 5 to 10 milligrams, Zohydro will be an order of magnitude higher: 10 milligrams will be the lowest available dose, 50 mg the highest. Second, while most hydrocodone products are combined with acetametaphin or ibuprofen, … Continue reading More on Zohydro
Sober fun on St. Patty’s day
I teach at a local university and some years I teach on Saint Patrick's day. It's bad. Green beer starts flowing early, there are very drunk people wandering around all day, people passed out on the sidewalk, etc. Worst of all, it's the default thing to do if you're a young college student on St. … Continue reading Sober fun on St. Patty’s day
It’s “changed the whole world”
A few weeks ago, I asked about how e-cigarettes might be used for other drugs and Dirk Hanson pointed out that it was already happening. The Detroit Free Press covered this segment of the pot economy: Chris Folkerts started selling electronic cigarette-like devices from the trunk of his car two years ago. Now he and … Continue reading It’s “changed the whole world”
Intervention – Dawn Farm Education Series
This program will describe how the "Love First" process of Intervention can help chemically dependent people find recovery. Key elements of the "Love First" model for effective intervention with addicted individuals will be discussed. This program will bring PRACTICAL INFORMATION, HELP and HOPE to anyone who cares about a chemically dependent person, and to anyone … Continue reading Intervention – Dawn Farm Education Series
Recovery Checkups
Bill White on efforts to develop and implement recovery check-up protocols: There is one sentence in the Standards that deserves particular acknowledgement: "Recovery check-ups by addiction specialist physicians, just as those by primary care physicians or other providers, may promote sustained recovery and prevent relapse" (p. 13). . . . The "recovery check-up" language marks … Continue reading Recovery Checkups
The golden age
Keith Humphreys argues we're entering a golden age for mental health care: For most of U.S. history, employers did not provide adequate mental health benefits in the insurance packages they assembled for employees. This wasn’t a controversial policy: most labor unions were quite happy to trade “mental for dental” when they negotiated fringe benefits. But … Continue reading The golden age
Roger Ebert Reader on Addiction
Ted Pillow has pulled together a collection of Roger Ebert quotes about addiction. I loved Ebert and this is a great read. Here's a taste: “Alcoholics or drug addicts feel wrong when they don’t feel right. Eventually they feel very wrong, and must feel right, and at that point their lives spiral down into some … Continue reading Roger Ebert Reader on Addiction
Recovery Review 