Beyond the Rat Race – Resilient Society in the Age of Alienation

On the 28th of April, 1972, Jimmy Reid, a blue-collar shop steward at the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in Glasgow Scotland gave his inaugural address as the Rector of the University of Glasgow. The Rector is a senior official of the University, elected every three years to represent the interests of the students. It was a … Continue reading Beyond the Rat Race – Resilient Society in the Age of Alienation

Contents of the unconscious – demystified

Lately I’ve been working on identifying both the content and operation of the unconscious in everyday life.  Why?  I want to be a better listener and better observer.  Below is a list I’ve been building for a while now – the column on the left titled "General”.  That column contains examples from everyday life that … Continue reading Contents of the unconscious – demystified

Envisioning Radical Change in Research, Clinical Training, and Service for Severe SUDs

This document summarizes and consolidates several years of my work on what turned out to be one large project.  The material is now presented here, all in one location, in 5 parts. The material that follows is also presented in a PDF at the end of this post for those that would like to have … Continue reading Envisioning Radical Change in Research, Clinical Training, and Service for Severe SUDs

Involuntary compassionate intervention?

Source: wikipedia This blog has had several posts on drug use, addiction, liberty, and involuntary treatment. I've used the expression, borrowed from Keith Humphreys, of choosing between "hands on" and "hands off" approaches. A recent article focuses on the use of involuntary Substance Use Disorder treatment under limited circumstances. This is toward the far end … Continue reading Involuntary compassionate intervention?

The Morphine Maintenance Movement

Men line up outside the doors of the New York Narcotic Clinic in 1919 Between 1919 and 1923, clinics provided legal access to narcotics to treat addiction In 1923, Oscar Dowling brought a serious charge against a doctor in Shreveport, Louisiana. Like a headline we'd recognize today, he claimed the doctor prescribed, “indiscriminately … of … Continue reading The Morphine Maintenance Movement

A steady march toward the deconstruction of addiction and recovery

photo credit: Bart Everson I want to add one thought to Brian's recent post about the study of a residential SUD program integrating the use of cannabis as part of their care. For me, this is representative of a steady march toward the deconstruction of addiction and recovery. If addiction is a social construction and … Continue reading A steady march toward the deconstruction of addiction and recovery

Fostering Recovery Community: Mutual Support with Broad Societal Benefit

“People are social creatures who need human interaction to drive and sustain their physical, intellectual and emotional development. The determination of who they interact with from the time of birth throughout their lifetimes is critical to who they become, how they behave, and how they are perceived (or misperceived) by others outside their immediate social … Continue reading Fostering Recovery Community: Mutual Support with Broad Societal Benefit