Category: Moments of Clarity

The 2 most important advances made by the founders of The Freedom Model Retreats for Addictions

If you’ve heard any of my personal history, you’ll know that I finally get over my substance use problem back in 2002 at The Freedom Model Retreat (which was called The Saint Jude Retreat at the time). I have great reverence for that place and the people who started it, Jerry Brown and Mark Scheeren.… Continue reading The 2 most important advances made by the founders of The Freedom Model Retreats for Addictions

NPR accidentally reveals the disgusting truth about the disease model of addiction

“But then, the more I think about it [getting off the drugs], it scares the hell out of me,” he says. “I’m scared of going backward. I honestly don’t know what would happen.”

That’s a fear voiced by many of the growing number of Americans who have come to see their addiction as a chronic disease, a condition they may have to live with — and need treatment for — for many years.

What Marc Maron Taught Me about Medical Malpractice

Slate.com recently featured an article by Yale Psychiatry resident physician Arjune Rama in which he interviewed comedian Marc Maron (host of the populare WTF podcast) about addiction, titled What Marc Maron Taught Me About Addiction. However, it seemed more like Maron was interviewing the doctor: Slate: A big problem for psychiatrists when it comes to understanding… Continue reading What Marc Maron Taught Me about Medical Malpractice

Why Can’t Alcoholics Moderate Their Drinking?

It is clear to me from both the research I have seen (check out Nick Heather’s book Controlled Drinking or the NIAAA’s NESARC studies for references on this fact) and from personal experience and observation that it is completely possible and indeed probable for people who have formerly had problems with drug and alcohol use… Continue reading Why Can’t Alcoholics Moderate Their Drinking?

Adderall Addiction in the NY Times

A recent article in the New York Times tells the tragic tale of a young man, Richard Fee, who committed suicide after a few years of heavy Adderall use and psychotic episodes which were probably related to/caused by the drug use. Adderall, a prescription medication used to treat ADHD, contains two types of amphetamine –… Continue reading Adderall Addiction in the NY Times

Freudian Slip? Robbie Williams Regrets Realizing He Was “Out of Control” Over Addiction

A recent article about british pop star Robbie Williams’ addiction woes would be completely stupefying if I didn’t already understand its messy philosophical foundation. Williams, now 38 years old, has been dealing with addiction and the conventional recovery world, with all of its self-defeating teachings, since the age of 19, with many documented stints in… Continue reading Freudian Slip? Robbie Williams Regrets Realizing He Was “Out of Control” Over Addiction