A new study concludes that getting treatment for alcoholism will not increase your chances of survival. Here’s why it’s important – we’re told all the time that there’s an epidemic of addiction, and that some astronomical figure of people who “need treatment” aren’t getting it. Most estimates range around 90%, such as this one, from… Continue reading New Alcoholism Study: Treatment Doesn’t Lower Mortality Rates
Category: Research
Colin Farrell and Madchild Mature Out of Addiction – Research Shows This Is More Common Than You May Think
I was reading two profiles of men in their mid-thirties who recently changed their problematic substance use habits, rapper Madchild, and actor Colin Farrell, and of course it reminded of the theory my friend Stanton Peele is so fond of – that people generally mature out of addiction, i.e. they grow up and change their… Continue reading Colin Farrell and Madchild Mature Out of Addiction – Research Shows This Is More Common Than You May Think
“In Recovery” or “Problem Free”? OASAS Distorts The Data With Manipulative Language
A new study finds that 10% of americans “used to have a problem with drugs or alcohol, but no longer do.” But somehow, this finding gets distorted to support the recovery culture. See how OASAS and Drugfree.org pull the scam and twist the data.
Yes, Twelve Step Facilitation is An Evidence Based Treatment.
If Twelve Step Facilitation is an “Evidence Based Treatment”, then such terminology is meaningless. The studies used by SAMHSA to classify TSF as EBT have also shown that the method is no more effective than “no-treatment.”
What Impulse? Dissenting Opinions On The Latest “Smoking Gun” In The Disease Debate
The latest addiction research is focused on the wrong thing – impulse control – the art of changing an addiction is not a process resisting impulses, it’s a process of doing away with such impulses.
Alcoholics Anonymous Leads to Increased Binge Drinking – Brandsma Study
A study showed that alcoholic men who went to Alcoholics Anonymous became 9 times more likely to subsequently “binge drink” than those who used a cognitive behavioral approach. What’s more, they were also 5 times more likely to binge than a control group who received no help with drinking. The take-home message here is: you’re… Continue reading Alcoholics Anonymous Leads to Increased Binge Drinking – Brandsma Study
Harvard Study Shows Nicotine Replacement Therapy, Sadly, Doesn’t Work
A Harvard study of 787 recently quit smokers shows that those who use NRT’s such as the patch or nicotine gum have relapse rates identical to those who quit without such aids. Maybe cigarette smoking is about more than just nicotine.
Harm Reduction Radio Interviews Michelle Dunbar on The St Jude CBE Program
Kenneth Anderson of the HAMS Harm Reduction Network has an interesting Blog Talk Radio show which covers a lot of alternative approaches to addiction. This week, he interviewed Michelle Dunbar, executive director of the Saint Jude Retreats. She discusses some history of the Saint Jude CBE Program, and discusses the research on success rates. You… Continue reading Harm Reduction Radio Interviews Michelle Dunbar on The St Jude CBE Program
The Clinician’s Illusion In Addiction and Recovery
A type of bias error called The Clinician’s Illusion has distorted all common knowledge about addiction and recovery. Learn a bit about The Clinician’s Illusion here.
A True Classic: Rat Park Criticizes Addiction Research Methods
A fresh look at the classic, yet underrated addiction study: Rat Park.