CNN.com summarizes a NYT Book Review review of three recent books that challenge conventional wisdom about mental illness. All of the authors of the new books agree on two thought-provoking viewpoints: 1. Our understanding of categories of mental illness and their treatments has been influenced by drug companies, through both legal and illegal marketing. 2. … Continue reading Top Posts of 2011 #6 – The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why?
Category: Controversies
Top Posts of 2011 #7 – Marijuana inc.
Keith Humphreys on what a legalized marijuana industry would look like: If the U.S. legalized marijuana today, those now fading cultural meanings would not rule the day, capitalism would. Cannabis would be seen as a product to be marketed and sold just as is tobacco. People in the marijuana industry would wear suits, work in … Continue reading Top Posts of 2011 #7 – Marijuana inc.
Top Posts of 2011 #9 – The second ‘A’ in AA
Am I the only one who is really underwhelmed with these recent pieces on whether anonymity in AA has been rendered quaint? To me, they seem to fundamentally misunderstand AA's anonymity. There's plenty of room within AA's traditions for activism and public education, AA members are just advised not to identify themselves as AA members in the media, avoid … Continue reading Top Posts of 2011 #9 – The second ‘A’ in AA
Top Posts of 2011 #12 – Addiction redefined
The American Society of Addiction Medicine has issue a new definition of addiction. The short version good, but the long version is REALLY good. Here are some of the new elements, some of them are followed by my responses: Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Nothing new … Continue reading Top Posts of 2011 #12 – Addiction redefined
Free will vs. addiction
This post from Points does a good job framing why, I think, so many people resist the concept of addiction: Although addiction may be defined and operationalized in a number of different ways, the heart and core of the concept lies in its implication of the loss of the ability to choose – that … Continue reading Free will vs. addiction
The wager
The passing of Christopher Hitchens caused me to reflect on libertarian thinking about drugs and alcohol. I don't like to get into reading other's minds, but, in spite of all their pragmatic arguments for libertarian drug policies, I've always thought pragmatic considerations were an afterthought and that their motivations were much more philosophical. They bristle … Continue reading The wager
One way?
A few weeks ago, The Fix posted one of its typical confessional pieces by a guy who had been in recovery and relapsed while writing a memoir/investigative report on opiate addiction in America. He talks about his attempts to keep it real in his book led to relapse, he went to treatment, got kicked out … Continue reading One way?
Medical marijuana reduces traffic fatalities?
I wonder if these findings will hold as others look at the data and other questions are asked. ...a new study out of University of Colorado Denver and Montana State University shows that legalizing medical marijuana sales in various states over the past two decades has led to a nearly 10 percent drop in traffic fatalities. … Continue reading Medical marijuana reduces traffic fatalities?
Sentences to ponder
The history of the intimate relationship between drinking and taxing suggests … that … [people] indulging a fantasy of income tax relief emerging from a cloud of legalized marijuana smoke should realize that it is likely only a pipe dream.—Daniel Okrent [hat tip: Kevin Sabet]
Sentences to ponder
Sometimes I think that the legalizers and the drug warriors have a secret arms-control treaty, in which each side renounces the use of factually and logically sound arguments. —Mark Kleiman [hat tip: Margaret Wente]
Recovery Review 