From Adolescent Drug Experimentation to Addiction
Although adolescence has always been a time of great transition, many older adults today may have trouble appreciating just how different adolescence has become. High school students today have extensive substance use experiences. For instance, based on federal studies, about 75% have tried alcohol (with 50% drinking regularly), 38% have tried marijuana, 20% have tried cocaine, […]
Let’s Stop Insisting Addiction is a Disease
The disease perspective discourages many people from seeking help and implies that addiction is a disease. Suppose you have had a “few too many,” and you have done so a few too many times in recent weeks or months. You might also be interested in: Addiction is Learning, Not Disease Most people, under these circumstances, […]
Why Do Some Avoid 12-Step Groups During Addiction Recovery?
Research shows that substance use disorder (SUD) patients who attend 12-step mutual help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous experience reduced healthcare costs and better outcomes. However, many individuals with SUD never attend 12-step meetings, while others who attend initially do not follow through. The reasons for non-attendance and dropout of 12-step meetings have not been […]
Herbal Remedies and Acupuncture for Addiction Recovery
Traditional Chinese medicine revolves around herbal remedies and acupuncture for addiction recovery. Might these ancient therapies be successfully used in modern addiction treatment? Chinese and American researchers studied the existing evidence and concluded that, although more testing is need, some traditional remedies can compliment modern medicine for promoting addiction recovery (Lu et. al., 2009). What We […]
Heroin Addiction Treatment in Prison
The United States has the world’s highest incarceration rate. Approximately 10 million individuals are sent to prison each year, and more than half of them have a history of substance abuse. Further, more than 200,000 have a history of heroin addiction. A recent study suggests that the prison system could improve addiction treatment offered to inmates. Nunn […]
Resolving The Core of Drug Abuse
Resolving the core of drug abuse David Jacobs, Ph.D. When I see a “drug abuser” in addiction treatment my primary concern is to help the individual understand how the past remains in the present and to consider how that past and present might be changed, with the goal of ending the costs that arise when drugs are […]
Detoxification From Addictive Substances
Detoxification from addictive substances A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP Detoxification (“detox”), or withdrawal, is the period of time it takes your body to adjust to being without a substance which it is used to having regularly. During this time period, a previous bodily “homeostasis” is restored, one based on not using the substance or substances. […]
Residential Addiction Treatment: Possibly Helpful, Probably Not Essential
Residential addiction treatment: Possibly helpful, probably not essential A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP The reason almost all health insurance companies have stopped paying for residential addiction treatment is that the effectiveness of residential treatment and outpatient treatment has been compared many times, with no advantage being found for residential treatment. The July 1986, issue of the American Psychologist contains […]
Levels of Care in Addiction Treatment
A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP There are many places you might receive assistance for overcoming addiction. These places are generally referred to as “levels of care.” By understanding the levels available you can choose the level most suitable for you. We start with the least complicated and expensive level and work up. We leave out detoxification […]
Do Women Need Specialized Alcohol or Addiction Treatment?
A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP There are several significant differences between men and women concerning alcohol problems. For instance, the same amount of alcohol (adjusted for weight) will have a bigger effect on a woman (because her stomach does not detoxify alcohol as effectively as a man’s stomach does), women may experience more medical complications (and […]