Addiction
Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism - Carl Jung
image by: Addiction Actually
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Changing the Conventional Wisdom about Addiction
What if addiction is less about drugs and genetic propensities and more about circumstances? It's a question the powers-that-be might not be comfortable hearing, but for decades Bruce Alexander has worked to make addiction as we know it a thing of the past.
To many, the case on addiction was closed. Certain substances, it was said, are inherently addictive. Expose an individual to enough of such a substance—particularly when she has a pertinent genetic predisposition—and addiction automatically results.
Like everyone who studies psychology, Dr. Bruce K. Alexander was well familiar with the "Skinner box" experiments on rats (among other animals) that were central to this…
Resources
Addictions.com
We help thousands of people learn about options for treating drug, alcohol, and behavioral addictions.
A radical approach to confronting addiction puts human connection first
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety,” she says. “The opposite of addiction is genuine, meaningful interactions and authentic connections and experiences with ourselves, each other, and the world around us.”
Capitalism is turning us into addicts
How Big Business shapes our habits and desires.
How Science Is Unlocking the Secrets of Addiction
We're learning more about the craving that fuels self-defeating habits—and how new discoveries can help us kick the habit.
People are dying because we misunderstand how those with addiction think
A philosopher explains why addiction isn’t a moral failure.
Will We Ever Understand Addiction?
One comes away with the overwhelming impression that the propensity for addiction is part of the human condition, “the blight man was born for.”
A Major Step Forward for Addiction Medicine
A major milestone was reached on March 14, 2016, when the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) formally announced recognition of the field of Addiction Medicine as a medical subspecialty. This is a development with enormous symbolic and practical implications for health care and for those affected by drug and alcohol use disorders, including nicotine addiction.
How to Break Your Smartphone Addiction
If you're a millennial like me or an avid smartphone user of any age, I'm sure you'd agree you would benefit from learning how to break your smartphone addiction. Smartphones have become our digital appendages, where we can tweet, text, snap a picture, shop, watch videos and more within a matter of seconds. While this accessibility can be convenient, it can also be overwhelming and even detrimental in the event of cell phone addiction.
The five most addictive substances on Earth – and what they do to your brain
Given the varied view of researchers, then, one way of ranking addictive drugs is to ask expert panels. In 2007, David Nutt and his colleagues asked addiction experts to do exactly that – with some interesting findings.
The Likely Cause of Addiction Has Been Discovered, and It Is Not What You Think
If you still believe — as I used to — that addiction is caused by chemical hooks, this makes no sense. But if you believe Bruce Alexander’s theory, the picture falls into place. The street-addict is like the rats in the first cage, isolated, alone, with only one source of solace to turn to.
The Many Faces and Phases of Addictive Behaviors
Humans have been using drugs, alcohol, tobacco, excess food and other substances for centuries. When taken to extreme levels, such behaviors can adversely affect physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, work, school, finances and future goals. In recent years, excessive use of screens, sex, porn, gambling, shopping and exercise have been added to the list of compulsive possibilities.
Video Games Aren’t Addictive
The American Psychiatric Association has identified internet gaming disorder as a possible psychiatric illness, and the World Health Organization has proposed including “gaming disorder” in its catalog of mental diseases, along with drug and alcohol addiction. This is all terribly misguided. Playing video games is not addictive in any meaningful sense. It is normal behavior that, while perhaps in many cases a waste of time, is not damaging or disruptive of lives in the way drug or alcohol use can be.
These Two Founders In Recovery Raised $118 Million For Their Virtual Addiction Treatment Startup
The approach and the opportunity to help treat the more than 20 million Americans with alcohol and opioid use disorders (not counting gambling, smoking and other addictions that Workit offers to help) has garnered investment from top tier firms.
Addiction Is the Worst Kind of Inheritance
"Addicts do not fall off family trees, but they also do not fall far from them, either."
Brain, Mind, Body And The Disease Of Addiction
The standard definition of drug or alcohol addiction is that it's a chronic, incurable disease of the brain.
Can You Get Over an Addiction?
We are long overdue for a new perspective — both because our understanding of the neuroscience underlying addiction has changed and because so many existing treatments simply don’t work.
Is Addiction a Learning Disorder?
A powerful new book argues for a new understanding of substance abuse.
The Science Behind Overcoming Addiction
Researchers probing alcohol and drug addiction are learning the molecular reasons for the “dark side” that occurs when people go cold turkey. Jonathan Rockoff joins Lunch Break.
Changing the Conventional Wisdom about Addiction
What if addiction is less about drugs and genetic propensities and more about circumstances? It's a question the powers-that-be might not be comfortable hearing, but for decades Bruce Alexander has worked to make addiction as we know it a thing of the past.
Addiction Hope
Addiction Hope’s mission is to help sufferers of all forms of addiction find hope, healing and recovery. Extensive information, resources and treatment referrals are provided for individuals struggling with addiction, their family members and treatment providers.
Bruce K. Alexander's Globalization of Addiction
Global society is drowning in addiction to drug use and a thousand other habits. This is because people around the world, rich and poor alike, are being torn from the close ties to family, culture, and traditional spirituality that constituted the normal fabric of life in pre-modern times. This kind of global society subjects people to unrelenting pressures towards individualism and competition, dislocating them from social life.
Addiction Treatment Forum
Addiction Treatment Forum has reported on substance abuse and addiction therapies, research, news, and events of interest to both healthcare professionals and patients since 1992.
ATTC Network
The ATTC Network is an international, multidisciplinary resource for professionals in the addictions treatment and recovery services field.
Learn to Cope
A peer-led support network for families dealing with addiction and recovery.
The Clean Slate Addiction Site
The addiction treatment industry, along with it's anointed experts and the recovery subculture have made a simple matter extremely complicated. The results of their teachings are disastrous. Addiction rates are edging up, overdoses and alcohol related deaths are skyrocketing, and the people who receive their help end up having higher rates of binge use, overdose, and longer periods of "addictive" use and more "relapses." The Freedom Model for Addictions is the antidote to the mess the recovery...
My Way Out Forum
Stop drinking and aftercare support with My Way Out.
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
AAAP provides a forum for keeping up with the field of Addiction Psychiatry, meeting with colleagues, and keeping me engaged in the relevant politics in our field.
American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) was founded in 1984 to enhance the quality of patient care in treatment programs by promoting the growth and development of comprehensive opioid treatment services throughout the United States.
American Society of Addiction Medicine
ASAM offers the opportunity to develop treatment guidelines and protocols, network with peers and attend world-renowned courses in the field of addiction medicine.
International Nurses Society on Addictions
To advance excellence in nursing care for the prevention and treatment of addictions for diverse populations across all practice setting through advocacy, collaboration, education, research and policy development.
NAADAC
NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, represents the professional interests of more than 100,000 addiction counselors, educators and other addiction-focused health care professionals in the United States, Canada and abroad.
National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
The mission of NAATP is to provide leadership, advocacy, training, and member support services to ensure the availability and highest quality of addiction treatment.
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