Howard Wetsman has been part of a workgroup challenging the dominance of pharmacological treatments and promoting psychosocial treatments. He's had some unsettling feelings and engaged in a thought experiment about what might happen if a real cure was developed. What we’re imagining is a complete cure. This is not a method for, let’s say, alcoholics … Continue reading How would we react to a CURE?
Tag: United States
without someone like me!?!?!?
Keith Humphreys is pretty great in this interview: Harold Pollack: I should say you've also done some research on AA [Alcoholics Anonymous]. I think some folks would be interested to know that, at least according to your research, AA is actually a pretty impressive intervention in some ways. Keith: Yeah. I don't mind people who are skeptical … Continue reading without someone like me!?!?!?
Prescription drug overdose statistics visually
Popular Science has a chart with US overdose deaths by drug: ...the rate of reported overdoses the U.S. more than doubled between 1999 and 2010. About half of those additional deaths are in the pharmaceuticals category, which the CDC has written about before. Nearly three-quarters of the pharmaceuticals deaths are opioid analgesics—prescription painkillers like OxyContin and … Continue reading Prescription drug overdose statistics visually
Ten Percent in Recovery – NOT
Here's the headline at Partnership for a Drug-Free America: Survey: Ten Percent of American Adults Report Being in Recovery from Substance Abuse or Addiction Very interesting news, right? How did they arrive at that number? With a poll that asks, "Did you once have a problem with drugs or alcohol, but no longer do?" Does that measure … Continue reading Ten Percent in Recovery – NOT
Dead addicts don’t recover, but…
This has gotten a lot of press. There's naloxone distribution doubt this will reduce overdose deaths. However, some pretty important questions remain: What happens after the overdose? What services/interventions might have prevented the overdose in the first place? The article references placing defibrillators in public places. What happens after someone is saved by one of those defibrillators? … Continue reading Dead addicts don’t recover, but…
Balancing pain management and public health
I blogged before about the availability of opiates for pain management and the need to try to limit their diversion. While others have complained about draconian limitations on the prescribing of opiates and being too afraid to treat pain, I pointed out the explosion in opiate prescriptions and overdoses. It's a complex problem that demands a solution that balances the … Continue reading Balancing pain management and public health
Number one cause of death among the homeless
Wow. Overdoses of drugs, particularly prescription painkillers and heroin, have overtaken AIDS to become the leading cause of death of homeless adults, according to a study of homeless residents of Boston released on Monday. The finding came from a five-year study of homeless adults who received treatment from the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, though its … Continue reading Number one cause of death among the homeless
2012′s most popular posts #2 – Everyone deserves a second chance
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
2012′s most popular posts #7 – K2, Spice and legalization
I do not consider myself a drug warrior. (Though, few people do these days. It can be a little like racism. People attribute it to others, but never themselves.) I oppose incarcerating people for possession of quantities consistent with personal use. I favor policies that target demand rather than supply. I'm also skeptical of hype … Continue reading 2012′s most popular posts #7 – K2, Spice and legalization
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
Recovery Review 