I would have thought this was a softball in support of buprenorphine. But, no: Among subjects with prior criminal charges, initiation of office-based buprenorphine treatment did not appear to have a significant impact on subsequent criminal charges. The paper gets a little says that this lack of effect includes drug charges. I'm no fan of … Continue reading Criminal charges before and after initiation of buprenorphine maintenance
Category: Controversies
Nicotine replacement ineffective
A recent study found nicotine replacement ineffective: In the prospective cohort study the researchers, including lead author Hillel Alpert, research scientist at HSPH, and co-author Lois Biener of the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Center for Survey Research, followed 787 adult smokers in Massachusetts who had recently quit smoking. The participants were surveyed over three time … Continue reading Nicotine replacement ineffective
Almost alcoholic?
This article demonstrates a big problem in understanding addiction and the a big problem in the current diagnostic categories. ...when we think about alcohol abuse or alcoholism, our thoughts often go to situations like this where someone is at a stage where they are doing immediate damage to themselves or others, but what about the … Continue reading Almost alcoholic?
Opiate use soars
The AP has a story on the explosion of prescription opiate sales: Nationwide, pharmacies received and ultimately dispensed the equivalent of 69 tons of pure oxycodone and 42 tons of pure hydrocodone in 2010, the last year for which statistics are available. That's enough to give 40 5-mg Percocets and 24 5-mg Vicodins to every person in … Continue reading Opiate use soars
The 3 worst arguments for marijuana legalization
Pro-legalization Reason recently posted an intellectually honest article picking apart 3 arguments frequently used by their allies: 3. Legalizing Marijuana Will End Cartel Violence in Northern Mexico 2. Marijuana Should Be Taxed and Regulated Because It Is America’s Largest Cash Crop 1.) Marijuana Should Be Legal Because It’s Medicine Reasonable people can disagree about marijuana … Continue reading The 3 worst arguments for marijuana legalization
Buprenorphine Maintenance and Health Care Professionals
Mayo Clinic Proceedings published a new article entitled, Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy in Opioid-Addicted Health Care Professionals Returning to Clinical Practice: A Hidden Controversy. From the article: When considering all of the aforementioned issues with buprenorphine diversion, it does not seem reasonable to prescribe this medication to an HCP (Health Care Professional) with a history of opioid … Continue reading Buprenorphine Maintenance and Health Care Professionals
Sentences to ponder
Further along the theme of blindness to one's own bias: It is therefore striking that libertarians, who are in fact uninclined to talk about family breakdown, seek to overturn a policy that does more damage to American families than any other. Conor Friedersdorf arguing that the single best thing the US government could do for families is … Continue reading Sentences to ponder
The limits of empiricism
While listening to On Point last week I was struck by an argument on a show that focused on Charles Murray's new book. I have no interest in arguing the merits of his thesis here, but he believes that, for a variety of reasons, America has been dividing by class and he is profoundly concerned about the … Continue reading The limits of empiricism
Even more on the DSM-V
The Fix follows up on the previous piece about the coming changes in the DSM-V. The writer captures my concerns: I don’t foresee any negative results from dropping those two misguided terms. (abuse and dependence) But what does concern me is the fact that rather than still having two separate and distinct conditions—one, a short-term, … Continue reading Even more on the DSM-V
Go Chris Christie!
A few weeks ago I shared some great comments from Chris Christie about the moral imperative to provide treatment to offenders with drug and alcohol problems. This week he called for New Jersey flags to be flown at half mast in honor of Whitney Houston. Not surprisingly, the decision has received some criticism. But Chris Christie is pushing back: … Continue reading Go Chris Christie!
Recovery Review 