Bad news. Drugs exceeded motor vehicle accidents as a cause of death in 2009, killing at least 37,485 people nationwide, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While most major causes of preventable death are declining, drugs are an exception. The death toll has doubled in the last decade, now … Continue reading Drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in U.S., data show
Category: Treatment
a family disease
Guinevere Gets Sober has a great post unpacking some of her thoughts about the new ASAM definition of addiction and what it means for the common expression that addiction is "a family disease." When I woke around 6 this morning I started to wonder: if addiction is an illness inside the addict’s neurological system, then how … Continue reading a family disease
Surprisingly high 12-Step attendance?
More evidence that women (Young women, in this case.) affiliate with and benefit from AA at rates at least as high as men. (More here.) It has been assumed that young women often don’t engage in 12-Step meeting environments, because they see them as a male-dominated atmosphere. Yet that notion has rarely been subjected to critical analysis, … Continue reading Surprisingly high 12-Step attendance?
Drug courts are not THE answer?
The Stranger examines the Drug Policy Alliance's criticism of drug courts: "Drug Courts Are Not the Answer," blares the cover of a 28-page critique released in March by the Drug Policy Alliance. A similar critique, released this year by the Justice Policy Institute, declares that the American system for dealing with drug abuse is "addicted … Continue reading Drug courts are not THE answer?
Use of diverted buprenorphine
A very interesting CESAR Fax this week. They report on a study finding that 69% of non-injection drug users surveyed reported using buprenorphine (Suboxone) to get high, while 32% of injection drug users surveyed reported using it to get high. I think that both numbers are high enough to raise concern, but the difference in … Continue reading Use of diverted buprenorphine
“real addiction treatment”
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”
Snap out of it!!!!
Advice for a new counselor: “It is tempting to want to confront addicts who are lost in lying and denial—to want to ‘snap them out of it’ because ‘anyone can see’ they need to change. This is probably the most damaging thing you can do to someone as a counselor. “It doesn’t count until they … Continue reading Snap out of it!!!!
Creeping up on 1,000,000
Another sentence to ponder: According to a recent report, the number of methadone patients in the United Statesincreased 26% between 2002 and 2009, to 284,608 patients; and there were 640,000 buprenorphine patients in 2009... —William White More than 1.5 times the populations of Boston, Denver, Washington D.C., Seattle or Baltimore.
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
Recovery Review 