Learn some more helpful and constructive definitions of substance use, substance abuse, and addiction.
Tag: addiction
Musings On The Choice Model
We look at what a Choice Model of Addiction implies, by use of an analogy.
The Tragedy of Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing may be the most successful approach the treatment world has for helping people to change their substance use habits – unfortunately the positives are likely outweighed or undone by the conventional treatment approaches with which it is simultaneously delivered.
Choice and Will Power
Will-Power is often confused as being the key element in a choice based model of addiction. One needn’t deny their will in order to solve a substance use problem. Just because addiction is not a disease, that doesn’t mean that one must live with constant “cravings” or desires to use drugs and alcohol. Learn more about a choice based model of addiction here.
Food Addiction = Drug Addiction, and Vice Versa
Overeating is like drug addiction, and drug addiction is like overeating. That’s the message in a recent story from NPR where they quote a Yale scientist who says
“The motivation to take cocaine in the case of a drug addict is probably engaging similar circuits that the motivation to eat is in a hungry person.” Well, why would you think the two behaviors were that different in the first place?
Stanton Peele’s Latest Discussion of Genes and Addiction
The whole genetic component to addiction and the outrageous claims of an addiction gene can be confusing. I must admit I’ve had trouble analyzing this topic because there is so much conflicting information. I do know that the most widely publicized information, Blum and Noble’s claims of an addiction gene, was front page news when… Continue reading Stanton Peele’s Latest Discussion of Genes and Addiction
Opium Addiction Fuels Afghan Chaos (or is it the other way around?)
The title of this post links to a BBC article about opium use in Afghanistan. I think the article has a very telling and honest tone which I hear constantly when people talk about addiction. When people talk about addiction and why substance abuse happens they often list the dismal life circumstances of the abuser, the… Continue reading Opium Addiction Fuels Afghan Chaos (or is it the other way around?)