[This post was originally published in 2013.] I spent a little more time with Jim Contopulos' video memorial for his son and an interview he did will Bill White. There's a lot to all of this, but a couple of things stuck with me. In the interview, he discussed being a scared parent and seeking … Continue reading Care that never quits
Tag: addiction
Who’s “we”?
This article (free with free account) is making the rounds and getting some attention. The post below addresses the issues raised. (originally posted on 10/31/2014) ==================================== This article has been forwarded to me by several people. Its author has been writing a series of articles that seek to redefine addiction and recovery. As Eve Tushnet recently … Continue reading Who’s “we”?
Reducing overdoses
A new leader in the Open Society Institute shares a sensible perspective on reducing overdoses: Looking ahead, reducing drug overdoses will require major shifts in how we approach substance use. First, and possibly most importantly, Maryland needs to connect individuals struggling with addiction to high-quality addiction treatment that is integrated with their primary care. Primary care providers … Continue reading Reducing overdoses
2014’s top posts: #2
"He'd still be alive" Much has been said this week about the death of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I've heard two recurring themes. First, that he might still be alive if he had been "treated with an evidence-based" treatment, like buprenorphine. Second, that he might still be alive if he hadn't been inculcated with the disease … Continue reading 2014’s top posts: #2
Top posts of 2014: #12
Abstinence—The Only Way to Beat Addiction? What killed Philip Seymour Hoffman? According to Anne Fletcher, it wasn't the doctor who prescribed him the pain medication that began his relapse, it wasn't the prescribers of the combination of meds found in his body, it wasn't his discontinuing the behaviors that maintained his recovery for 23 years, … Continue reading Top posts of 2014: #12
The soul of addiction treatment
I've never met Scott Kellogg, but I appreciate his presence in the field. He's struck me as a pragmatist who tries to find third ways and has a conservative temperament. There are too few people who fit that description. His recent piece for Substance and Pacific Standard is on "A Struggle for the Soul of Addiction Treatment." … Continue reading The soul of addiction treatment
Who’s “we”?
This article has been forwarded to me by several people. Its author has been writing a series of articles that seek to redefine addiction and recovery. As Eve Tushnet recently observed, "There’s another narrative, though, which is emerging at sites like The Fix and Substance.com." This sentence is representative of this alternative narrative: "The addiction field has … Continue reading Who’s “we”?
you are still valued and respected
DJ Mac directs us to an interview with a English recovering harm reduction advocate, Kevin Jaffray. He shares a little of his own experience of fighting and, eventually, entering recovery. [emphasis mine] Speaking as someone who came into abstinence kicking and screaming – thankfully with my health intact – after a number of chaotic years in … Continue reading you are still valued and respected
sustained guidance into full cultural participation
I've posted recently on the role of class in addiction, policy, treatment and recovery. Here are a couple of sentences from Bill White on the topic. Those individuals needing professionally directed addiction treatment suffer from more than a singular, encapsulated problem with alcohol or other drugs. Need for addiction treatment—particularly prolonged or repeated treatment—is often a proxy … Continue reading sustained guidance into full cultural participation
Faith of a different sort
DJ Mac wraps up a series of posts on pharmacology with a post focused on our faith in pharmacology. Holy grails are few and far between. Pharmaceutical holy grails are no different. They are as rare as a moderate position in the Scottish independence debate. We have a few prescription drugs licensed to treat addiction … Continue reading Faith of a different sort
Recovery Review 