Music, Addiction, And Imaginary Diseases

If we are to believe the argument that addiction is a disease, then we should also believe that the ability to play improvised jazz, conduct an orchestra, or freestyle rap is a disease. Indeed, if mere measurements of brain activity are sufficient proof of disease, then anything and everything we do is caused by disease – the term loses all relevance, and our society gets further and further away from real solutions to behavioral problems. Being an expert musician is not a diseased state – nor is being an expert drug user.

The Tragedy of Motivational Interviewing

Contradiction

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.

69.5% of Treatment Revenues Come From Public Funds

Unfortunately, most of the money spent on treatment for drug and alcohol problems comes from the government. This situation props up the false and ineffective disease model favored by government agencies such as the NIDA, and results in worse services for us all. There is no free market competition working to bring better help to people with addiction.

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

Tax dollars thrown away on pointless animal experiments

I don’t often find myself siding with PETA, but they bring up an important point: “it is especially egregious that experimenters are trying to use animals to model addiction, which is in large part caused by social, psychological and even economic factors. Studies on animals can’t resolve these issues.” Read more here: Tax dollars thrown… Continue reading Tax dollars thrown away on pointless animal experiments