The number of Americans who fit the diagnosis for a heroin/opioid addiction (Opioid Use Disorder or OUD) is currently 2 million (most recent data available is from 2018). It has hovered around this number for a long time, with a low of 1.7 million in 2002, and a high of almost 2.4 million in 2015.… Continue reading The Facts: buprenorphine treatment for Opioid Use Disorder is widespread.
Tag: research
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)
Do Alcoholics Lose Control? The Results of Priming Dose Experiments Say NO
The central claim of Alcoholics Anonymous and addiction / alcoholism treatment providers is the idea that “alcoholics” literally can’t control whether they drink or how much they drink. Some differ on the matter of whether alcoholics can even choose to have the “first drink” or not, but most seem to agree that once the alcohol… Continue reading Do Alcoholics Lose Control? The Results of Priming Dose Experiments Say NO
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
A True Classic: Rat Park Criticizes Addiction Research Methods
A fresh look at the classic, yet underrated addiction study: Rat Park.
Peele: Addiction In The Real vs Clinical World
Stanton Peele discusses the reality of addiction vs the myths of the recovery culture.
My Poster-Boy
Is Charlie Sheen a poster boy for the non-12-step, non-disease crowd?
Finally Some Real Reporting: Scientific American On “Curing” Yourself Of Addiction
Some honest reporting from Scientific American on the reality of natural “recovery” or self-change from substance use problems
It’s All Twelve-Step – So Stop Talking About Science Already
Figureheads of the recovery culture claim that treatment uses science to provide solutions for addiction. They also claim that those who question the treatment system stand in the way of science and progress. Meanwhile, the main component of treatment- Substance/Drug Abuse Counseling – is oriented around a form of faith healing: the 12-Steps.
Reality Check – Most Don’t Become Addicted
Contrary to the hype, most drug users don’t become “addicts”. Studies show that only 13.4% of recent heroin users actually become dependent on the drug. It’s time for a reality check on the truth about drug use and addiction.