The breakdown of addiction- Kevin McCauley
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The breakdown of addiction- Kevin McCauley
Last night I attended an addiction education class for my outpatient program and we watched the film called Pleasure Unwoven. I absolutely loved it- the movie describes in simple terms the actual biological disposition and what happens with the brain in addicts when using... basically why one would choose to use despite negative consequences. While a lot of it appears basic and may be review, I found it really interesting to see it all laid out in an easy to understand way...
I'm definitely not doing the film justice and found this youtube link with various clips. It's nice to understand the way the brain of an addict works NOT simply to put off responsibility but to understand why we are different than some people and to see how our brains can heal. Check it out if you'd like
Uploads from Kevin McCauley - YouTube
I'm definitely not doing the film justice and found this youtube link with various clips. It's nice to understand the way the brain of an addict works NOT simply to put off responsibility but to understand why we are different than some people and to see how our brains can heal. Check it out if you'd like
Uploads from Kevin McCauley - YouTube
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 205
Dr. Kevin Mccauley Meth and Other Drug and Alcohol Addiction - YouTube
Here's another link to a talk by Dr. McCauley.
Here's another link to a talk by Dr. McCauley.
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 318
Originally Posted by Riel 
Dr. Kevin Mccauley Meth and Other Drug and Alcohol Addiction - YouTube
Here's another link to a talk by Dr. McCauley.
Here's another link to a talk by Dr. McCauley.
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 205
Thank you, chaili.
I'd never heard of Dr. McCauley until you posted the link to him, and his message is certainly thought-provoking.
He points out the role of the mid-brain in addiction - in a manner similar to Jack Trimpey's "Beast" in Rational Recovery - and also explains how the AA program provides the addict with coping strategies to facilitate recovery.
He comes down on the disease side of the disease vs. choice debate, and his rationale is persuasive.
I've tended to favour the choice side - because I thought the concept of "powerlessness" diminished my chances for recovery - but in his disease model powerlessness refers more to being powerless over craving, rather than motor-control (although it does contemplate true powerlessness as when stress shuts down the cerebral cortex in an addict leaving the mid-brain to take over).
I'd never heard of Dr. McCauley until you posted the link to him, and his message is certainly thought-provoking.
He points out the role of the mid-brain in addiction - in a manner similar to Jack Trimpey's "Beast" in Rational Recovery - and also explains how the AA program provides the addict with coping strategies to facilitate recovery.
He comes down on the disease side of the disease vs. choice debate, and his rationale is persuasive.
I've tended to favour the choice side - because I thought the concept of "powerlessness" diminished my chances for recovery - but in his disease model powerlessness refers more to being powerless over craving, rather than motor-control (although it does contemplate true powerlessness as when stress shuts down the cerebral cortex in an addict leaving the mid-brain to take over).
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