Some people really fall for the whole thing, hook, line, and sinker, and that leads to a lot of unnecessary pain. But here’s what’s really going on with addiction, treatment, and recovery – they are social constructs that are killing us: The entire concept of addiction – a state in which people are involuntarily using… Continue reading 19 ugly truths about addiction and recovery that nobody wants to look at.
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In The Freedom Model, happiness is the central motivator of change, but you don’t need to be happy to solve your substance use problem.
The big core principle in The Freedom Model for Addictions is the idea that you can base your choice to quit/moderate your substance use around the conscious belief that quitting or moderating is the happier option than your current style of heavy use. I bolded the ier at the end of happier in the previous… Continue reading In The Freedom Model, happiness is the central motivator of change, but you don’t need to be happy to solve your substance use problem.
Essential Reading List for the Truth about Addiction, Alcohol, and other Drugs
The hysteria and myths about alcohol, other drugs, and addiction runs deep in American culture – and I believe it is causing us to have more problems with alcohol and other drugs. The more people learn the truth, the more we can create a cultural shift that decreases these problems. The following is my study… Continue reading Essential Reading List for the Truth about Addiction, Alcohol, and other Drugs
“Real alcoholics” more likely to recover than “heavy drinkers”
Real Alcoholics are more likely to recover than Heavy Drinkers according to data in the government’s latest large scale epidemiological study, NESARC-III.
Euthanasia for Addiction? A logical choice built on a false premise.
This is a truly sad and disturbing story that sums up why I fight against the myth that addiction is a chronic disease, and that addicts/alcoholics are helplessly out of control. A 41 year old man in the Netherlands decided to euthanize himself after 8 years of a painful alcohol use problem. ‘My parents especially have… Continue reading Euthanasia for Addiction? A logical choice built on a false premise.
Deflection in the addiction treatment industry over ethics
Addiction treatment workers complain about unethical behavior in the addiction treatment industry, in a recent New York Times article titled “How Staten Island’s Drug Problem Made It a Target for Poaching Patients.” Their target is rehab recruiters who offer backdoor referral payments for patients with private insurance. This is against the law in some states, but… Continue reading Deflection in the addiction treatment industry over ethics
Heroin isn’t taking over your town.
“Stop the heroin epidemic, it’s taking over our town!” We hear this constantly, but is heroin truly capable of taking over towns, enslaving people, and killing them? Heroin doesn’t do this.
Hate me all you want, but please read this piece by Dr Carl Hart
Carl Hart Phd is a neuroscientist, drug researcher, and Columbia University professor with 25 years of research under his belt. He wrote a book a few years ago that was fantastic. He discusses some of his research in it. He doesn’t really get into discussing treatment or support groups. He seems most concerned with spreading truth about the effects of drugs. He wants to undo the misinformation.
Successful Moderate Drinking / Substance Use – Who can Moderate, When, and How?
Can I moderate my drinking or drug use? When should I try moderation? How do I moderate my drug and alcohol use? Because of the confusion and misinformation about substance use and addiction in our culture, these are tough questions for which quick answers won’t do. Let’s unpack a few things, and then we can get to… Continue reading Successful Moderate Drinking / Substance Use – Who can Moderate, When, and How?
Scared Straight: Why The Truth About Addiction Is Such A Threat To Mainstream “Recovering Addicts”
The truth about addiction – that it is not a disease, and that every substance user is in full control of their drug and alcohol use – is treated as a mortal threat by “recovering addicts and alcoholics.” But why? Because they rely on fear of the addiction boogie monster – and the truth will take their fear away.