Drug Addiction
For too long, medicine has been dominated by an abstinence-only model - Carl Erik Fisher MD
image by: Latah Recovery Center
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Addictions.com
The notion that drug addiction is a brain disease has become axiomatic. Around the globe aspiring health professionals treating substance abuse are indoctrinated with this belief, especially after the idea became popular in the 1990s. Its popularity extends far beyond the hallowed halls of academia...
Many addiction researchers begin with the assumption that this condition is a brain disease. Yet there are virtually no data in humans indicating that addiction is a brain disease in the way that, for instance, Huntington’s or Parkinson’s are brain diseases...
Research has now shown repeatedly that alternative reinforcers can be used effectively to treat substance-use disorders.…
Resources
'The Urge' says calling addiction a disease is misleading
Today, Fisher is in recovery and an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. His new book The Urge: Our History of Addiction – part memoir, part history – looks at the importance of careful language when talking about addiction, and how treatment has historically ignored its complex socio-cultural influences.
I’m an addiction researcher and therapist. Here’s why promoting sober ‘dry months’ bothers me
I’m troubled because while dry drinking campaigns benefit many, they do not help the individuals that I have worked with over the years. These attitudes and campaigns do not contribute to a more nuanced discussion about substance use. Instead, they perpetuate the idea that quitting drinking for a month is a choice, and an easy and positive one at that.
Tackle the causes of drug addiction
Reduce social inequalities: the demand for drugs is greatest in neighbourhoods where young people grow up feeling they are already life’s losers.
There is life after addiction. Most people recover
Americans often see the more destructive side of addiction, drug crime, people slumped in doorways and family members who are spiraling downward. Less visible are the people who survive the illness and rebuild their lives. "We are literally surrounded by people who are in recovery from a substance-use disorder, but we don't know it," Kelly said.
This Neuroscientist Argues That Addiction Is Not a Disease and Rehab Is Bullshit
Marc Lewis, a former drug addict and current neuroscientist, says the medical model of treating addiction needs to be challenged.
We Are All Drug Users
Who can honestly say that they don’t use drugs? I’m not necessarily talking about illegal drugs, like marijuana or psychedelics. Alcohol is a drug. Nicotine is a drug. Caffeine is a drug. Aspirin is a drug. Many kids are on Adderall and many parents and grandparents take Viagra.
The First Day
Chris Herren, former professional basketball player, author and wellness advocate, has shared his story of recovery with over 1 million people nationwide. The First Day film chronicles this journey revealing Herren’s vulnerability and his profound connections with high school students who, in turn, have shared their stories of struggle and strength. Through the power of storytelling, The First Day addresses issues that school systems, communities and people across the country are impacted by, directly or indirectly, each day including substance use, other harmful behaviors and mental wellness.
A neuroscientist debunks common beliefs about drug addiction
Carl Hart is a neuroscientist and drug addiction expert at Columbia University. In a recent TEDMED talk, Hart spoke about drug addiction and the many misconceptions surrounding the topic — and how those misconceptions can mislead drug policy.
Addiction In The Workplace: How Leaders Can Help Create A Path To Recovery
Many of those battling addiction are often able to mask it, but substance use can still affect their work performance. In addition to being detrimental to the employee’s quality of life, addictions can negatively impact a company’s overall productivity, cause increased absenteeism, lower morale, risks to on-the-job safety and more.
Brain, Mind, Body And The Disease Of Addiction
The standard definition of drug or alcohol addiction is that it's a chronic, incurable disease of the brain.
Can You Cure Yourself of Drug Addiction?
Is it possible to cure yourself of addiction without professional help? How often does that happen? Of course it's possible. Most people recover and most people do it on their own. That's in no way saying that everyone should be expected to quit on their own and in no way denies that quitting is a hard thing to do.
China’s strong-arm approach to drug addiction does not work
Rising numbers of drug users suggest a need for a more subtle policy.
Declaring Addiction a Health Crisis Could Change Criminal Justice
The surgeon general’s new approach on substance abuse has policy implications for law enforcement.
How to talk to your employer about your addiction
When you are still employed, as more than 70% of substance users are, it’s easy to convince yourself that everything is under control. Distorted thinking is a hallmark of addiction, and the irrationality can get quite extreme. As drugs took over and ruined my life, I kept telling myself, my friends, and my family, “I’m still employed. I’ve got this.” I was overdosing on heroin, but saying, “It’s not that bad, I’ve got a job.”
If a Loved One Is Struggling With Drug Addiction, Is it Wrong to Cut Ties?
Often when reading about drug addiction, especially in relation to the impact on family, you come across one of two perspectives. Recovery from substance abuse, or resignation to a very final loss, usually death. Being stuck somewhere between those two places and totally unsure of which outcome you’ll be left with can be overwhelming, alarming, and confusing.
Is Addiction a Learning Disorder?
A powerful new book argues for a new understanding of substance abuse.
People recover from addiction. They also go on to do good things
The news about addiction — rising rates of addiction, record numbers of overdose deaths, and the like — tends to be bleak. As clinicians and researchers, however, we have the good fortune to often see its bright side: recovery.
Rethinking What it Means to Recover from Addiction
There is no “one true way” to end addiction—and the idea that “one size fits all” can be harmful and even deadly in some cases.
The Condition Many Recovering Addicts And Alcoholics Don't Know About
No one said recovery would be easy. And for the majority of addicts and alcoholics, detox is just the beginning.
The great American relapse
An old sickness has returned to haunt a new generation.
The Truth About Painkiller Addiction
Amid an opioid crisis, authorities overestimated the danger of prescription painkillers—while doing too little to identify patients at risk of addiction.
What Doctors Can Learn From the Dark Web
Opioid addicts are turning to online forums for advice about quitting. Their conversations have a lot to teach us about drug use and public health.
When Relapse Turns Deadly: What You Need to Know About Drug Overdose
It is a sad irony that rehab is life-saving, yet the weeks and months immediately following checkout are among the most vulnerable times in an addict's recovery. It can take up to a year for the areas of the brain responsible for impulse control and emotion regulation to return to normal functioning.
Addictions.com
We help thousands of people learn about options for treating drug, alcohol, and behavioral addictions.
Is Drug Addiction a Brain Disease?
This popular claim lacks evidence and leads to poor policy.
Shatterproof
Shatterproof is a national organization committed to protecting our loved ones from addiction to illicit and prescription drugs, and alcohol, and ending the stigma and suffering of those affected by this disease.
Above the Influence
Above the Influence is a place where teens can stand up to negative pressure, connect with others, join the discussion and just be themselves.
Addiction Inbox
Articles and health studies about drugs, addiction and alcoholism, including the most recent scientific and medical findings.
Drug War Facts
Drug War Facts provides reliable information with applicable citations on important public health and criminal justice issues.
Erowid
Erowid is a member-supported organization providing access to reliable, non-judgmental information about psychoactive plants and chemicals and related issues. We work with academic, medical, and experiential experts to develop and publish new resources, as well as to improve and increase access to already existing resources.
Foundation for a Drug Free World
Education plays a vital role in preventing drug abuse. How to talk to youth about drugs is often puzzling or appears impossible. This is why, for over twenty years, the largest community-based drug education program has been carried out worldwide.
FRANK
This web site is an independent government funded web site maintained for your personal use and viewing. Access and use by you of this web site constitutes acceptance by you of these Terms and Conditions that take effect from the date of first use.
GRASP
GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing) was created to help provide sources of help, compassion and most of all, understanding, for families or individuals who have had a loved one die as a result of substance abuse or addiction.
Heroin.org
For all the varied treatment methods Heroin use remains a significant addiction problem world wide. In the United States one alarming trend is that the age of first use such that 1.5% of 9th graders report using heroin.
Know Your Source
Fentanyl may be hiding in the drugs you’re using. You won’t see it, smell it or taste it, but it can kill you. BE DRUG SMART. Don’t use alone. Start with a small amount. Learn about naloxone.
MADD
The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.” To date, MADD’s work has saved 300,000 lives…and counting.
Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse
MAMA's goals are to provide current, scientific drug education to all ages, to offer social and recreational alternatives to drug use, to promote better communication between policy makers, educators, law enforcement, service providers, seniors, parents and youth and to question techniques of advertising all drugs and advertising's effects on the entire population
Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse
Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse was formed to bring awareness to the public about the risks of addiction and fatalities, due to the abuse of prescription drugs. We are striving to change the perception that experimenting with prescription drugs for recreational purposes is safer than the use of illicit drugs.
Narcotics Anonymous
Every addict in the world has the chance to experience our message in his or her own language and culture and find the opportunity for a new way of life.
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
One-stop shopping for the consumer, students and the media who want objective information, including statistics, interviews with medical/scientific experts and recommendations about drinking from leading health authorities.
National Families in Action
National Families in Action was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. Its mission is to help families and communities prevent drug use among children by promoting policies based on science.
National Family Partnership
The Red Ribbon Campaign is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week, October 23-October 31 each year.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Our goal is to support and promote the best science on alcohol and health for the benefit of all.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Education resources & materials on drugs of abuse, marijuana, ecstasy, smoking, steroids
National Recovery Month
The Recovery Month effort aims to promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of treatment providers and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders in all its forms is possible.
NIDA for Teens
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), created this Web site to educate adolescents ages 11 through 15 (as well as their parents and teachers) on the science behind drug abuse. NIDA enlisted the help of teens in developing the site to ensure that the content addresses appropriate questions and timely concerns.
Opiates.net
The need for finding an opiate addiction rehab or heroin detox center has never been higher. 100 people die every day in the United States due to an opiate-related overdose or one person every 15 minutes. While there is no overnight cure for this devastating problem, long-term opiate recovery is possible. Learning more about opiates, addiction and the rehabilitation process is the first step in getting help.
Partnership for Prevention
Partnership for Prevention is a membership organization of businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies advancing policies and practices to prevent disease and improve the health of all Americans
RAND Drug Policy Research Center
The goal of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center is to provide a firm, empirical foundation on which sound drug policies can be built. It's a goal we have pursued with energy, commitment, and skill since 1989.
Recovered
The road to recovery starts here.
Run Drugs out of Town Run
We aim to raise awareness of and money for drug abuse prevention with an emphasis on providing positive alternatives.
SADD
Our goal is to provide students with the best prevention and intervention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving and other destructive decisions.
SAMHSA
SAMHSA was created as a services agency to focus attention, programs, and funding on improving the lives of people with or at risk for mental and substance abuse disorders.
Schaffer Library of Drug Policy
Major Studies of Drugs and Drug Policy, History of the drugs and drug laws, Medical Marijuana Research, Government Publications on drugs and drug policy, Charts and graphs of drug war statistics, Information on specific drugs and Much, much more.
StoptheDrugWar.org
Stop the Drug War is an international organization working for an end to drug prohibition worldwide and for interim policy reform in US drug laws and criminal justice system.
The November Coalition
Working to end drug war injustice, the November Coalition, a non-profit grassroots organization, was founded in 1997.
Web of Addictions
The Web of Addictions is dedicated to providing accurate information about alcohol and other drug addictions.
Women For Sobriety
Women For Sobriety, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women overcome alcoholism and other addictions. Our "New Life" program helps achieve sobriety and sustain ongoing recovery.
Addiction Guide
Our mission is to help all those affected by addiction by providing reliable and comprehensive resources, advice, tips and guides. We are a diverse team made up of recovering addicts, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates and we want to help you find the best care possible.
Addiction Helper
A treatment service for people with addictions, created by people in recovery.
Addiction Treatment Forum
Addiction Treatment Forum has reported on substance abuse and addiction therapies, research, news, and events of interest to both healthcare professionals and patients since 1992.
Adfam
Adfam is the leading national organisation working with and for families affected by drugs and alcohol.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
BenzoBuddies
BenzoBuddies: an inclusive, nonjudgmental mutual-support environment for those who wish to withdraw from benzodiazepines. Members of the BenzoBuddies community are encouraged to exchange ideas, information and support during the process of withdrawal and recovery. Although outside of the immediate scope of BenzoBuddies, members are free to discuss their wider medical problems and needs as they relate to benzodiazepine use and withdrawal.
Cocaine Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction.
DetoxLocal
Find A detox local to you. Built by recovered addicts to help people recover.
Home Health Testing
Home Health Testing is a consumer-oriented business with product lines ranging from marijuana drug tests to home HIV tests. Our priorities are your satisfaction and your privacy.
Partnership to End Addiction
We partner with families, professionals and other organizations to end addiction in this country. Ours is a public health approach, rooted in science and compassion.
SoberRecovery
People do recover, every single day. From alcoholism and drug addiction, dual diagnosis, abuse and trauma, overeating, gambling, codependency and more, people do get better.
Treatment Research Institute
The Treatment Research Institute is a not-for-profit research and development organization dedicated to reducing the devastating effects of alcohol and other drug abuse on individuals, families and communities by employing scientific methods and disseminating evidence-based information.
MedicalNewsToday
The latest Alcohol News & Addiction News & Illegal Drugs News articles published daily. Includes news on dependency, related health benefits/risks, rehabilitation and more.
ScienceDaily
ScienceDaily is one of the Internet's leading online magazines and Web portals devoted to science, technology, and medicine.
WHO
This website contains information pertaining to psychoactive substance use and abuse, and also information about the World Health Organization's projects and activities in the areas of substance use and substance dependence.
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