Anna David has an interview with Earl Hightower that really gets at the informed consent issues I've been talking about here. AD: Should the parents just accept the first recommendation or should they ask for more? EH: I think the first question they should ask should be one they ask themselves, which is how they … Continue reading how do you want your loved one to return?
Tag: Abstinence
Thanks for the evidence
Anna David points us toward some positive press for AA. One of the articles focuses on a lecture by Marc Galanter Galanter said that AA uses many of the psychosocial features that operate in any charismatic membership group: social cohesion through attendance at regular meetings; a belief system embodied in the book Alcoholics Anonymous; a behavioral program … Continue reading Thanks for the evidence
24 month outcomes
Another study supports the effects of twelve step participation over 24 months. (I know the abstract says "self help", but the pay-walled article makes it clear that they were looking at twelve step participation.) Abstract The goal was to identify factors that predicted sustained cocaine abstinence and transitions from cocaine use to abstinence over … Continue reading 24 month outcomes
2012′s most popular posts #3 – Hazelden to start opioid maintenance
This has gotten a lot of attention [emphasis mine]: ...for the first time, Hazelden will begin providing medication-assisted treatment for people hooked on heroin or opioid painkillers, starting at its Center City, Minnesota facility and expanding across its treatment network in five states in 2013. This so-called maintenance therapy differs from simply detoxifying addicts until … Continue reading 2012′s most popular posts #3 – Hazelden to start opioid maintenance
More evidence for 12-step approaches
Another study finding the 12-step involvement is associated with continuous abstinence: Abstract A longitudinal analysis of 12-step involvement was conducted among a U.S. sample of patients exiting treatment for substance dependence. Categorical involvement in a set of 12-step activities and summary scores of involvement from the Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale were examined in relation to … Continue reading More evidence for 12-step approaches
Changes in brain gray matter in abstinent heroin addicts
A few years ago, Bill White called for research on the neurobiology of recovery. (He noted that all of our research efforts have been focused on understanding addiction without any research on understanding recovery.) Well, some Chinese researchers have made a contribution. Good news for heroin addicts. Background Previous neuroimaging studies have documented changes in … Continue reading Changes in brain gray matter in abstinent heroin addicts
Cognitive performance of opioid maintenance vs. abstinence
A new study finds lower cognitive functioning in maintenance patients compared with abstinent former users. It also found no difference between methadone patients and buprenorphine patients. Background To compare the cognitive performances of maintenance patients (MAIN), abstinent ex-users (ABST) and healthy non-heroin using controls (CON). Methods Case control study of 125 MAIN (94 … Continue reading Cognitive performance of opioid maintenance vs. abstinence
WTH?!?!? (What the heck)
I'm not, in any way, against efforts to develop pharmaceutical treatments for addiction. However, I'm of the opinion that there is a culture problem among researchers and some members of their universe. Does any serious, knowledgeable person with an eye toward practice believe that a stimulant drug is going to be an effective treatment for alcoholism? Yet, … Continue reading WTH?!?!? (What the heck)
They’ve got hope for something. But, what?
Stimulant maintenance therapy did not work 😦 This study did not find a significant main effect of modafinil on the rate or duration of cocaine use among cocaine-dependent patients. Now they decide to polish the turd: Although these results are disappointing, we did find that modafinil-treated patients had nonsignificantly higher odds of attaining abstinence across … Continue reading They’ve got hope for something. But, what?
Group treatment has long term benefits
From the journal, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research: Background: Group psychotherapy (PT) is one of the most common interventions used to treat alcohol dependence (AD), and it is assumed to be effective. Despite its common clinical use, long-term trials that have been conducted to examine the efficacy of group PT in the treatment of outpatients with AD … Continue reading Group treatment has long term benefits
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