Has Drunk Driving Changed?
we often find ourselves in the position of addressing what's really an entrenched pattern of destructive behavior as if it were a one-time error in judgement. Because that's how the offender sees it.
Category: Addiction Clinicians
Addiction clinicians ROCK! It’s a complex field and evolving all the time. But some tried-and-true tools will never go out of date. Strategies, tips, and even a laugh or two.
Addiction Clinicians
Latest
One study went viral, the other did not
Bad intent is not required for an article or broadcast segment to qualify as potentially harmful misinformation. It only needs to be present in the most provocative way in the right forum.
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Inexplicably Drunk
Of course, clinicians who work with offenders are accustomed to the occasional client who shows up stubbornly insisting that he or she had consumed no alcohol whatsoever before arrest.
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Living with a Label
“When you put a name to something, you gain a certain degree of power over it,” a psychologist told me, during a workshop on addictions.
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Curious about Sobriety
Yes, to an addiction counselor it will seem reminiscent of the control strategies employed by many folks who eventually wind up in treatment.
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The BPD Question
I remember when this was a debate within psychiatric circles around alcoholism, back when that disease was seen as a symptom of emotional problems.
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Another Approach to Pain
Somehow, experts believe, the brain of the chronic pain patient has “learned” to interpret certain stimuli as a threat, accompanied by danger messages in the form of pain.
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When the Grieving Doesn’t End
In general, the pathology of prolonged grief features intense feelings of longing for or preoccupation with thoughts of the deceased– for example, on most days or even daily over a period of time.
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Methamphetamine Rising
Are users seeking out such ‘combo’ preparations because they want the extra kick from the interaction? To help overcome an elevated tolerance, perhaps.
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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.
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Self-Disclosing
…with any helping relationship, I think it’s best to restrict self-disclosure to situations where you believe it will advance the goals of treatment.
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Placebo Power
I’ve heard from various physicians over the years that as patient visits grow ever briefer– down to 11 minutes in some clinical settings– doctors are increasingly quick with the prescription pad.
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Drinking in the Pandemic
Offer counseling and support or even a special track for folks who “fell off the wagon”, so to speak, and now may be ready to climb back on.
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