Gambling — A Public Health Issue?
...because gambling is now an industry with vast resources and a huge political presence, we can expect... significant resistance from those quarters.
Limits of Harm Reduction
We either do what works, as challenging as that may be, or we accept the consequences of failure.
From our friends in Canada:
Harm reduction not enough to support those struggling with addictions, say front-line workers
No, I don't imagine it is. It’s part of a strategy, not complete in itself.
As a colleague of mine would put it, harm reduction is about making people less sick, which includes preventing premature death. That’s justification enough.
Harm reduction measures alone won’t get someone all the way to "well", in the sense of stable recovery. That requires a great deal more effort.
Frequently said during the opioid epidemic: "No one can get clean and sober if they already died of a drug overdose." Can't argue with that. But what’s to prevent that same individual from returning to the behavior that nearly killed them in the first place? That goes beyond basic harm reduction.
So a naloxone distribution program or a needle exchange needs to promote other services, such as treatment and continuing support, to truly be effective.
I remember the...
Harm reduction not enough to support those struggling with addictions, say front-line workers
No, I don't imagine it is. It’s part of a strategy, not complete in itself.
As a colleague of mine would put it, harm reduction is about making people less sick, which includes preventing premature death. That’s justification enough.
Harm reduction measures alone won’t get someone all the way to "well", in the sense of stable recovery. That requires a great deal more effort.
Frequently said during the opioid epidemic: "No one can get clean and sober if they already died of a drug overdose." Can't argue with that. But what’s to prevent that same individual from returning to the behavior that nearly killed them in the first place? That goes beyond basic harm reduction.
So a naloxone distribution program or a needle exchange needs to promote other services, such as treatment and continuing support, to truly be effective.
I remember the...
- Thinking About Addiction
- In the News
- Public Health
- Public Policy
Some Downward Progress
Many older folks turn to cannabis to self-medicate the pain and sleep problems that can plague old age. As they become dependent on cannabis, we could see the emergence of more health-related problems there.
Gambling — A Public Health Issue?
...because gambling is now an industry with vast resources and a huge political presence, we can expect... significant resistance from those quarters.
Arc of the Pendulum
Instead, our habit has been to rush head first in one direction, then reverse and rush back the opposite way
- Resources About
- Addiction
- Addictive Substances
- Prevention
- Recovery
- Treatment
Limits of Harm Reduction
We either do what works, as challenging as that may be, or we accept the consequences of failure.
When Addiction Is The Norm
Genetics appear to play a role, of course; so do environmental factors, including trauma -- something that often haunts such families.
Cocaine’s Comeback?
As of 2023, some 14.2% of Americans over the age of 12 acknowledge having tried cocaine at least once. Among illegal drugs, that still ranks second only to marijuana
Life in a Hot Spot
Make it a continuing effort, using strategies based in evidence, and harnessing the power of human interaction-- instead of relying on a burst of anti-drug education, however intense.
Hunter on Trial
...in the claustrophobic environment of a trial, it seems it's still permissible to treat the consequences of this complex, multifactorial chronic disorder as simply the result of some poor soul’s irresponsible decision-making.
Limits of Harm Reduction
We either do what works, as challenging as that may be, or we accept the consequences of failure.
- Resources For
- Addiction Clinicians
- Families
- People in Recovery
- Programs
Revisiting CHS
As of now, there's no single widely used treatment -- other than giving up marijuana.
Revisiting CHS
As of now, there's no single widely used treatment -- other than giving up marijuana.
When Addiction Is The Norm
Genetics appear to play a role, of course; so do environmental factors, including trauma -- something that often haunts such families.
Exercising for Chronic Pain Relief
We've known for several decades that regular exercise, even the mild sort, helps lessen symptoms of depression. It comes as no surprise that it may also help with CPS and the mood problems that accompany it.
Drugs in Jail
If 70% or more of a jail population has been identified as having a drug or alcohol problem – that does happen – then what you’re really operating is a treatment center that happens to have bars on the windows and guards at the entrance.
- Library
- Bookshelf
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First Person Hard Charger
In fact, in many instances, the trauma that occurs after they’re addicted is more damaging than what happened before.
First Person Hard Charger
In fact, in many instances, the trauma that occurs after they’re addicted is more damaging than what happened before.
Diagnosing Cannabis Use Disorder: Updated
It certainly makes sense that if you suffer from a major mental illness, you should stay away from pot.
Video: Practical Advice on Prescription Painkiller Problems
People have abused opiates for 5,000 years. As much as medicine depends on them, they've always created problems for a percentage of users.
