Understanding the pathways of addiction

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Permalink Reply by Peter LeSavage on September 8, 2009 at 2:12am

That's a good point. We do need different ways of controlling a substance problem. ( personally, I dispise terms, such as addiction, abuse, ect. ) I think a good start to alternate ways is to first examine the system itself. The only thing out there is 12 step programs. Why? That's the only program that the gov. will fund. The structure is designed for non-recovery, which keeps funding in check. Also to understand the effects of the philosophy, psychology, and the so-called support of the attendants of these programs.
A friend of mine, ( who had to go to A.A. ) told me that they made him feel worthless at thoes meetings. I also went to sit in and it's true. This one guy "slipped", and he was browbeaten for it. We do need something different than what we have now, but we need to understand the programs that are allready in place, and take it from there.

Permalink Reply by Jim Mo. on September 13, 2009 at 1:36am

I guess it will be a challenging task given the complex of individual psychology, neurochemistry/ neurophysiology, and the need to find an effective motivation for self-control and diminuation of the substance usage. I suspect that there are many different reasons that people develop or end up with a substance problem. A one-size-fits-all formula is not likely to work. I can think that a generalized approach that includes assessing how and why the individual got to the point of having a problem would be necessary. It does it matter why and how?

Permalink Reply by Jim Mo. on November 14, 2009 at 3:12pm

I recently attended a presentation by a community psychological services group. They offer a number of presentations each year directed at parents of teenagers. In the presentation I was reminded of the pattern where some people with mental disorders (including brain disorders), will self-medicate with alcohol or street drugs to try to modify their "condition". Theoretically, these individuals either do not know they have a disorder, deny the disorder, or do not want the social stigma attached to seeking professional treatment. What is the "guesstimate" of how many "addictions" are driven by self-medication? What accounts for the others who are not considered to be self-medicating?