Uncategorized Archives - The Clean Slate Addiction Site

Different Methods Work For Different People. Or Do They?

A reader recently chastised me about denigrating the conventional recovery methods (see my response here), but they also went on to say: Different people find their solutions in different ways and it really doesn’t matter what rehab method they use, if it works for them then it is effective. I’ve heard this many times, and… Continue reading Different Methods Work For Different People. Or Do They?

OASAS Misses The Point on Heterosexism

This post has little to do with addiction itself, and more to do with an ironic interesting thing I found on an addiction website. In the early 70’s, Martin Rochlin wrote a subversive and humorous psychological essay called “The Heterosexual Questionnaire”. It asks the reader questions normally directed at GLBT people, such as: What do… Continue reading OASAS Misses The Point on Heterosexism

Alcoholics Anonymous doesn’t work for everyone – and that’s OK

In a recent issue of the Los Angeles Times, Amy Lee Coy told her story of struggling in AA for TWENTY YEARS before finally quitting drinking for good by leaving the program, casting aside the disease concept & addict label, and taking control of her life. Miss Coy’s story is a great example of both… Continue reading Alcoholics Anonymous doesn’t work for everyone – and that’s OK

A Libertarian View On Drugs and Addiction

There’s a great article discussing everything from the drug war & legalization to the brain disease model of addiction on the Mises Institute site. Here’s an excerpt, check it out: When people take drugs, their brain functioning changes. When they have sex, cuddle their toddler, or eat chocolate, similar changes occur in the same brain… Continue reading A Libertarian View On Drugs and Addiction

Is Hoarding a Disease? Parallels With Addiction

I love watching the show Hoarders as much as I love watching Intervention. But both are based on the idea that these types of behavior are the result of diseases – and by disseminating this view they may be causing more harm than good. Unfortunately, substance abusers are already doomed – the idea that their… Continue reading Is Hoarding a Disease? Parallels With Addiction

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Addiction Is Not A Brain Disease. Logic, neuroscience, epidemiology, and social psychology all demonstrate this.

This site is dedicated to presenting a different view of addiction: That it is all about choice, and that you can permanently change your substance use habits without fear of relapse or a lifetime spent in meetings and treatment.

Some of you might be wondering whether I know about all the scientific proof that addiction is a brain disease. I'm well aware of the scientific facts and their misinterpretation. Here's my critical analysis of the brain disease model of addiction.

This site is not presenting a model of "recovery" because addiction is not a disease from which one can recover. It is freely chosen behavior, which anyone can freely choose to abandon at any point. This is not recovery from a disease, it is a change like any other change in day to day living that people make in their lives.

I am dedicated to presenting information about addiction from a non-disease perspective, so that people can learn how to feel free and in control of their substance use, and be empowered to change it to whatever degree will make them happiest in their lives. "Addiction is a choice" - that is, you can choose whether to hold or dismiss every thought and belief that motivates you to use substances heavily - and thus you can choose whether to continue any pattern of substance use or not - at will.

Reading any particular article on this website will not force you to change. Hopefully though, you will find some information that helps you to believe that change is possible for you - that it is within reach. This is one key ingredient in changing the mindset that fuels "addiction."