Tag: Celebrity

A few ways society can reduce opiate overdoses

With the recent overdose death of beloved actor Philip Seymour Hoffman in the news, this is a good time to discuss the causes of such tragedies. First and foremost, overdoses happen because people use drugs. People use drugs because they like the way the drugs make them feel. These facts will never change, so there… Continue reading A few ways society can reduce opiate overdoses

Matthew Perry Wrong About Addiction and Alcoholism in Debate With Peter Hitchens on BBC

The recent debate between Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing from “Friends”) and Peter Hitchens about the nature of addiction and alcoholism on BBC’s Newsnight was utterly painful and sad to watch. Matthew Perry was there to push a drug court initiative, but shortly into the debate Hitchens called the idea that people can’t stop taking drugs… Continue reading Matthew Perry Wrong About Addiction and Alcoholism in Debate With Peter Hitchens on BBC

The Misguided Obsession with Heroin / Opiate Maintenance Drugs (Suboxone, Subutex, Buprenorphine, Methadone)

Two fairly recent stories discussing Suboxone / Buprenorphine have me shaking my head. In one, a pregnant woman who had already quit using opiates was punished for refusing to take Suboxone. In another, it is claimed that Glee actor Cory Monteith wouldn’t have died from overdose, if only he had been prescribed some sort of… Continue reading The Misguided Obsession with Heroin / Opiate Maintenance Drugs (Suboxone, Subutex, Buprenorphine, Methadone)

Brain, or Thought? How To Explain Changes In Substance Use Habits

The Black Eyed Peas vocalist Fergie recently spilled her guts to Oprah about a past problem with drugs, specifically crystal meth. She says she got into a state of paranoia, walked into a church, had a conversation with God, and decided to stop using drugs. Meanwhile, addiction “experts” often describe choices about substance use as… Continue reading Brain, or Thought? How To Explain Changes In Substance Use Habits

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

Russell Brand’s Ridiculous Testimony To Parliament About Addiction

Comedian and “recovering addict” Russell Brand recently testified in front of a committee in Parliament about drug policy.  If you want to watch it, here’s the full video, his portion goes 29 minutes long, or you can skip it and read my points below: What’s wrong with Russell’s pitch? I’m sure his intentions are nothing… Continue reading Russell Brand’s Ridiculous Testimony To Parliament About Addiction

Alec Baldwin’s “Gaming Addiction” and Other Nonsense

Alec Baldwin has been labeled an addict for an altercation over cell phone use on a plane. This case makes it clear that addiction hysteria is all about judgment. The so-called mental illnesses of hoarding, Facebook addiction, texting addiction, gaming addiction, and substance addictions are not real illnesses – they are simply behaviors unapproved of by others.

World Series Baseball, Pain Medication, Addiction Falsehoods, And Existential Questions…

Addiction myths permeate our entire culture, even news coverage of the World Series. Which falsehoods are being spread, and how can we debunk them? Does pain medication cause “addiction” or “relapse”?

The Obligatory Amy Winehouse Post

Much ado has been made about Amy Winhouse’s tragic death – in no small part because it’s suspected that it was a drug related death, and of course her biggest hit song was titled “Rehab” and is perceived as expressing an anti-change / anti-sobriety message. I see it differently. I think “Rehab” was an anti-coercion anthem.