-
Calling bullshit on addiction treatment bullies
About three years ago, I was attending a national conference on public health (American Public Health Association) and presenting my posters on the relationship between drug use and violence, and sexually transmitted infections and injecting drugs. As I walked the aisles I ran into a woman who runs a Florida addiction “treatment” facility. We talked…
-
About Alfred Adler – One psychoanalytic view of alcohol and drug addiction
In a previous post (see A Million Ways to Treat an Addict) I had mentioned that there are many ways to approach the treatment of addiction to drugs and alcohol. I mentioned methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and a growing number of medications (like Vivitrol) and possibly some preventative measures…
-
A&E’s Intervention: The Johnson Model, Motivational Interviewing, and more
A&E’s “Intervention” is a reality series that follows one individual struggling with addiction per episode. Family and friends gather with an interventionist toward the end of the episode and an intervention is planned. The addict is then given a choice between leaving immediately for rehab or risk losing contact, financial support or some other privileges…
-
How it doesn’t work – the dogma of the 12 steps
Imagine being diagnosed with cancer, going through a regimen of chemotherapy only to have the cancer return within months, and being told by your doctor that there must be something wrong with you and that he can’t treat you unless you let the chemo do its work. Absurd right? 12-Step dogma Unfortunately, if you replace…
-
Creating a better system of addiction treatment: Matching rehabs to patients
I can’t hide it any longer, I just have to confess: I hate the way addiction treatment is managed nowadays. With over 25 million people meeting criteria for addictions in the U.S., only 10% are seeking treatment on a yearly basis. Sure, part of the problem is that others just don’t want it, at least…
-
How can you offer addiction help?
The question that seems to be on everybody’s mind (except perhaps that of the addict), is: SO HOW CAN I HELP ?!?!? – One of the first things you must do if you want to help someone with an addiction is to educate yourself. Obviously, you are already beginning the process by reading blogs like…