Reihan Salam directs us to this speech given by prominent Republican Chris Christie. What's so compelling is that this is a tough on crime speech by a rising and influential Republican governor who resume includes having been a prosecutor and he calls for diversion, compassion and treatment for addicts: At the same time, let us reclaim the … Continue reading 2012′s most popular posts #2 – Everyone deserves a second chance
Tag: Substance abuse
Scotland’s ORT Outcomes
Scotland invests a very large portion of their treatment resources into ORT and recently released a report on their outcomes. Pretty underwhelming. ... the Report on People in Treatment study reveals that more than two out of every three users who go into treatment admit continuing to use illegal drugs after three months. ... Where … Continue reading Scotland’s ORT Outcomes
2012′s most popular posts #9 – What Vietnam taught us
I seem to have noticed an uptick in book, news and blog references to heroin addiction among returning Vietnam vets. (A Google news search suggests that this perception is accurate. I suspect it's because it offers a narrative that's consistent with the current monoculture.) It's claimed that this offers important lessons about addiction and behavior … Continue reading 2012′s most popular posts #9 – What Vietnam taught us
2012’s most popular posts #10 – 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 stage … Continue reading 2012’s most popular posts #10 – Almost Alcoholic
Anonymity Hurts More Than It Helps???
This video came to my attention through this op-ed. I like the video and agree that making recovery more visible is important in reducing stigma. Last year I wrote: Am I the only one who is really underwhelmed with these recent pieces on whether anonymity in AA has been rendered quaint? To me, they seem to fundamentally misunderstand AA’s anonymity. There’s … Continue reading Anonymity Hurts More Than It Helps???
a protective wall of human community
Sentences to ponder: In a 1961 letter to AA’s co-founder, BillW., the renowned psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, described two main ways in which individuals with severe alcohol addiction might recover. One was through ‘real religious insight’; the other was through ‘the protective wall of human community’ characterized by a ‘personal and honest contact with friends’ (AA, 1963) [62]. Although AA … Continue reading a protective wall of human community
Diagnosing ADHD in detox?
Unreal. Someone's got an awful lot of faith in their diagnostic skills. Diagnosing ADHD with addicts in a detox unit? Really? And, now that it's published, it's "evidence". Rates of undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in London drug and alcohol detoxification units Background ADHD is a common childhood onset mental health disorder that persists into … Continue reading Diagnosing ADHD in detox?
Shame and Addiction
Analysis of a recent study on shame and addiction suggests that shame may play a helpful role in getting alcoholics to initiate recovery but, once they're sober, it's associated with relapse. Two psychological scientists at the University of British Columbia -- Jessica Tracy and Daniel Randles -- decided to see if alcoholics' feelings of shame … Continue reading Shame and Addiction
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
Motivational Interviewing works, but no better than other treatments
Cochrane conducts a meta-analysis of motivational interviewing (MI) and concludes that it's no more effective than other treatments. More than 76 million people worldwide have alcohol problems, and another 15 million have drug problems. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a psychological treatment that aims to help people cut down or stop using drugs and alcohol. The … Continue reading Motivational Interviewing works, but no better than other treatments
Recovery Review 