In another post referencing the new ASAM definition of addiction, Keith Humphreys steps into the murky territory of addiction and personal responsibility: It is reasonable to say to someone who is not addicted “Please be more responsible about your substance use — you are choosing to act in a fashion that may eventually get you … Continue reading Addiction and responsibility
Category: Controversies
Michigan marijuana dispensaries must close?
New ruling on medical marijuana dispensaries in Michigan: Medical marijuana dispensaries in Michigan may have to close their doors after a potentially far-reaching court decision Wednesday declared Compassionate Apothecary in Mt. Pleasant a public nuisance. The unanimous ruling by the three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeals was declared a statewide precedent by Attorney … Continue reading Michigan marijuana dispensaries must close?
ASAM’s definition. Utterly new?
Addiction Doctor offers a response to criticism of the new ASAM definition of addiction. First, on the issue of stigma being reinforced by the "brain disease" message: Ms Szalavitz misses the internal inconsistency in the data that stems from the “old” definition of addiction. Until ASAM’s new definition, every biological explanation of addiction as a whole or divided … Continue reading ASAM’s definition. Utterly new?
Will the truth hurt?
Keith Humphreys offers a personal anecdote to illuminate what we know and don't know about addiction: For a brief period of my life, I consumed far more opioids than the most hardened heroin addict. After a freak injury that left me with my femur broken into two jagged pieces that spiraled past each other, shredding … Continue reading Will the truth hurt?
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 Addiction redefined
Let’s not link everything to addiction
The Atlantic Wire summarizes a piece on the problem with the media linking everything to addiction: This week, people who enjoy tanning salons learned that their hobby was an addiction just like drugs or booze. Researchers behind the study, The New York Times relayed, noticed "that several parts of the brain that play a role in addiction were activated when the … Continue reading Let’s not link everything to addiction
Sentences to ponder
From a commentary in Addiction: Pedersen's study is generally well conducted, but the silent paradigm around such studies is troubling. Why are questions of this genre so often asked, funded and published? The commentary is in response to a Norwegian study finding a relationship between marijuana use and poverty, but his observation and question could be asked about a … Continue reading Sentences to ponder
‘The Illusions of Psychiatry’: An Exchange
First, the NYT Review of Books published a review of three books that cast doubt upon our faith in psychotropics. Then, the Times published a defense of antidepressants. Now, the contentious dialog continues with three letters to the editor from very esteemed psychiatrists and then a response from the writer of the original review. (A former … Continue reading ‘The Illusions of Psychiatry’: An Exchange
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 Marijuana inc.
Choosing death
Andrew Sullivan offers a more sympathetic version of the free will meme: Tragically, Amy Winehouse finally got what she sought for so long: death. It must in some ways be a relief for her. Her addiction was so obviously overwhelming she couldn't bring herself to master it and made a decision not to. She even … Continue reading Choosing death
Recovery Review 