Fatal OD, Unintended OD
To the casual observer, drinking or drug use is a form of slow suicide.
Fatal OD, Unintended OD
To the casual observer, drinking or drug use is a form of slow suicide.
One thing that’s long puzzled me — how we go about reliably determining when a fatal overdose represents a suicide, and when it doesn't. That's important because it’s generally agreed that the majority of OD deaths are in fact unintended.
It's become more of an issue in recent years due to the work of economists Ann Case & Angus Deaton and their book, Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism. It's gained considerable attention in both the academic and general media. Here’s a short video wherein the two social scientists briefly explain their research:
I’ve never been entirely comfortable with the inclusion of overdose deaths under a heading such as 'deaths of despair' . Especially now, with fentanyl having superseded heroin among users in many areas. It adds a whole new dimension of unpredictability to drug use. I can see the relationship between suicide and despair (defined as the ‘utter loss of hope.’) But as I said before, most overdoses don't...
It's become more of an issue in recent years due to the work of economists Ann Case & Angus Deaton and their book, Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism. It's gained considerable attention in both the academic and general media. Here’s a short video wherein the two social scientists briefly explain their research:
I’ve never been entirely comfortable with the inclusion of overdose deaths under a heading such as 'deaths of despair' . Especially now, with fentanyl having superseded heroin among users in many areas. It adds a whole new dimension of unpredictability to drug use. I can see the relationship between suicide and despair (defined as the ‘utter loss of hope.’) But as I said before, most overdoses don't...
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Sad Sacklers
It’s a strategy we’ve seen employed again and again in recent years – total denial of responsibility as a first line of defense, not the last.
Fatal OD, Unintended OD
To the casual observer, drinking or drug use is a form of slow suicide.
Cannabis and Crime
Incarceration can be costly, disruptive to families, and appears to do little to deter future drug use. And though people do change while incarcerated, it isn’t always for the better.
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Freakout!
Definitely not the mental state you want for making good decisions or solving problems.
Doctors and Alcohol Disorders
Definite progress has been made, but there are still plenty of examples of people who fall through the cracks in the healthcare system.
Overdose by Skin Contact?
But then I remembered that many in law enforcement had never accepted the opinion of medical experts on the issue.
The Drug Epidemic to Come
On a recent show, comedian John Oliver addressed the prospect of a future virus pandemic that...
Freakout!
Definitely not the mental state you want for making good decisions or solving problems.
The Quality of Sobriety
Once the patient gained insight, the theory went, the drive to abuse drugs or alcohol gradually disappears.
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The Dilemma of Reactance
Psychological reactance is a common issue in addiction treatment wherever it’s been mandated as a consequence of an offense, or as an alternative to punishment.
The Dilemma of Reactance
Psychological reactance is a common issue in addiction treatment wherever it’s been mandated as a consequence of an offense, or as an alternative to punishment.
Good Advice?
I happened to stumble across an advice column in one of the national newspapers. It dealt with a...
Augmented Emotion
The reporters' anxiety amplifies the natural tension of a story, turning everything into a crisis.
Fellowship in Action
...knowing where to go, how to get there, who to talk with, and what to say, can be invaluable in terms of reconstructing a life.
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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.
