I've previously expressed concern about the medicalization of addiction treatment as health care reform takes effect. Here's an ASAM member's complaint that addiction medicine physicians have not sufficiently medicalized their treatment services: I also respect those individuals who have suffered from the disease of addiction and have found help with 12-Step based programs. I understand … Continue reading “real addiction treatment”
Category: Policy
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
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.
“Good for her”
A libertarian's response to Amy Winehouse's death: Seems to me Amy Winehouse had the life she wanted. So good for her. I like Wilkinson and I have an affinity for libertarians, but their inability to see that addiction impairs the exercise of free will is a real problem for me. They insist on framing addictive … Continue reading “Good for her”
Anti-depressant confusion
The NY Times publishes a defense of anti-depressants: IN terms of perception, these are hard times for antidepressants. A number of articles have suggested that the drugs are no more effective than placebos. Last month brought an especially high-profile debunking. In an essay in The New York Review of Books, Marcia Angell, former editor in chief … Continue reading Anti-depressant confusion
Portugal and the drug war. Non sequitur?
Portugal's drug policy has gotten a lot of press recently and it sounds like an approach that's worth trying to learn from: Health experts in Portugal said Friday that Portugal's decision 10 years ago to decriminalise drug use and treat addicts rather than punishing them is an experiment that has worked. "There is no doubt … Continue reading Portugal and the drug war. Non sequitur?
bringing recognition, respectability and rigor
Remember that post a few weeks ago about medicalization of addiction treatment? Here it comes: Boosting interest in addiction medicine are a handful of promising new pharmaceuticals, most notably buprenorphine (sold under brand names like Suboxone), which has been proven to ease withdrawal symptoms in heroin addicts and subsequently block cravings,though it causes side effects … Continue reading bringing recognition, respectability and rigor
Naltrexone doesn’t work but Vivitrol gaining momentum
Bad news for naltrexone: Compared to placebo, or to no medication or alternative medications, prescribing oral naltrexone led to no statistically significant differences in the primary retention/abstinence outcomes. The main problem associated with oral naltrexone was high treatment drop-out – across the 13 included studies, 72% of patients did not complete treatment. Newer implant and … Continue reading Naltrexone doesn’t work but Vivitrol gaining momentum
Catching addiction?
I think this post downplays the legitimate concerns associated with the explosion in prescription opiate misuse. In a post last week, I said this about prescription opiates: ... they’re the fastest growing segment of the drug problem in the states. And, they’re currently associated with high rates of OD. And, it’s increasingly associated with crime. And, they’ve surpassed marijuana … Continue reading Catching addiction?
Legalization Won’t Kill the Cartels
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. —H. L. Mencken I've always been a little skeptical of arguments that legalizing drugs will end drug related crime as though it's self-evident. This NY Times commentary makes the case that cartels are really organized crime groups and they will just find … Continue reading Legalization Won’t Kill the Cartels
Recovery Review 