New report: Addiction Treatment in America
The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) released a major study recently entitled “Addiction Treatment in America – Not Based in Science Not Truly Medical” … critiques include that there are no national standards of practice for addiction counselors, and 14 states dont require any education or licensing at all
DSM-5 Stirs Controversy
The new DSM-5 could classify many more people as addicts … among the questions and criticisms being being raised in articles and blogs, including a recently in the Sunday New York Times story. The 5th edition DSM … adds addiction and related disorders as a new category, replacing substance abuse and dependence …. and behavioral addictions such as gambling.
Designer Drugs – interview with Dr Lisa Marzilli
The New Face of Drugs & Addiction is the name of an ongoing lecture series by Dr Lisa Marzilli, … she and Darryl discuss the rapid evolution of designer drugs over the last few years, particularly the pseudo-cannabinoids, and the stimulant “bath salts” which have become widspread because they are often not illegal, and hard to test for; unfortunately, they can also be much strong then the marijuana and cocaine they mimic, sending a significant numbers of users to the ER.
Behavioral Addictions: Is everyone addicted ?
Inspired by a recent Huffington Post article, we look at whether there is a trend to “medicalize normality out of existence” — with the inclusion of behavioral addictions in the new psychiatry handbook (DSM-5.) Gambling is the first topic in our wide-ranging discussion of addiction.
Evolving Treatment Medicines and Models
We look at addiction treatment models, Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12-Step Program and other non-12 Steps models as well as the increased use of opioid antagonist drugs – nalaxone and nalmefene, for countering opiate overdoses, and with the potential to block craving for many addictions
An App for Craving, Inhalable Caffeine & More on Pain Meds
A smartphone app to monitor cravings– a new tool for relapse prevention? Also the newest legal drug – inhalable caffeine … and more on prescription drug use debate (updated.)