The Obama administration just released their annual drug control strategy report and all the headlines say it emphasizes treatment over incarceration. Sounds great, but the stories are short on details. Others, from the Drug Policy Alliance are dismissing it as more of the same. More of the same? Really? I think Obama's safely within the … Continue reading Why we can’t agree
Category: Treatment
12-step involvement and continuous abstinence at 2 years
More support for twelve step facilitation and sober housing: Participants who were categorically involved in 12-step activities were significantly more likely to maintain continuous abstinence at 2 years compared with those who were less involved, predicting a greater likelihood of complete abstinence than summary scores of involvement. In addition, participants in the Oxford House condition … Continue reading 12-step involvement and continuous abstinence at 2 years
Identity and recovery
Healthland has a post on the relationship between identity and health: When is a label a badge of honor, and when is it a harmful stigma of sickness or deviance? This question is of critical importance to public health... But what does any of this have to do with health care? One of the best ways … Continue reading Identity and recovery
Memory ‘trick’ relieves drug cravings
We've previously posted about the use of medications like propranolol to interfere with memory reconsolidation and reduce the power of addicts' neurological triggers to get high. Chinese researchers are experimenting with non-pharmaceutical approaches to using memory reconsolidation to reduce craving: Addicts tend to associate a drug's effects with drug-taking equipment and a certain environment, which can make … Continue reading Memory ‘trick’ relieves drug cravings
Criminal charges before and after initiation of buprenorphine maintenance
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
Twelve-Step attendance trajectories over 7 years among adolescents
More evidence for the benefits of 12 step facilitation for adolescents: Results of multivariate logistic GEE models indicated that adolescents with continued 12-Step attendance had better outcomes over time, whereas those in the early but not continued group had no different long-term outcomes compared to those in the low/no attendance group. A problem, of course, … Continue reading Twelve-Step attendance trajectories over 7 years among adolescents
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?
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
Everyone, from Yale to jail
Greater Good has a nice piece on the benefits of helping others in addiction recovery: In recent years, a growing body of research has found that helping others brings measurable physical and psychological benefits to the helper. Building on this work, Pagano is exploring the particular and sometimes surprising benefits of altruism for people battling alcoholism and … Continue reading Everyone, from Yale to jail
Recovery Review 