Podcast on Addiction
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Here is the link. http://www.sciencefriday.com/pages/2...r1_061606.html
I think you can download and listen for free on your computer using windows media player or real player etc.
Again worth a listen, goes into genetics, environment, talking with leading scientists in the field of addiction research.
I think you can download and listen for free on your computer using windows media player or real player etc.
Again worth a listen, goes into genetics, environment, talking with leading scientists in the field of addiction research.
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Join Date: Jan 2006
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Thanks for posting this Guy
This is, in my opinion, good stuff. Frustrating it all takes so long - much of this was presented over 20 years ago in "Under the Influence." I'm so grateful the dialogue continues.
I look forward to the day this is more accepted, as there is still much dissension on the subject. No matter what your beliefs on alcoholism and addiction, this program gives a lot to consider.
This is, in my opinion, good stuff. Frustrating it all takes so long - much of this was presented over 20 years ago in "Under the Influence." I'm so grateful the dialogue continues.
I look forward to the day this is more accepted, as there is still much dissension on the subject. No matter what your beliefs on alcoholism and addiction, this program gives a lot to consider.
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A Question for the Group
A question for the board. If you accept that the premise of this audio clip is true.....i.e. addiction has a strong genetic and bio chemical basis, would you say this challenges the concept of letting a person "hit bottom" on their own.
Would the better treatment be forcing them into a hospital for evaluation, and medication with therapy consisting of behavioral reeducation? Especially since there appear some many new drugs to help fight addiction.
Or again, is the only way for a person to recover is "hit bottom" so hard the consequences force the person to change their destructive behavior?
Would the better treatment be forcing them into a hospital for evaluation, and medication with therapy consisting of behavioral reeducation? Especially since there appear some many new drugs to help fight addiction.
Or again, is the only way for a person to recover is "hit bottom" so hard the consequences force the person to change their destructive behavior?
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IMO a person hitting bottom is a self motivated individual and might have a better chance of a successful recovery that someone who was thrown into rehab against their will.
Besides... the legal system is already overwhelmed. How could they handle the responsibility of forcing everyone into rehab that "needs it". Then... how do you define the people "that need it".
I do see your point and think I know where you're coming from Guy...
But nobody has the power to force the Mother of your children into rehab again and again until it sticks. We are powerless over others.
Besides... the legal system is already overwhelmed. How could they handle the responsibility of forcing everyone into rehab that "needs it". Then... how do you define the people "that need it".
I do see your point and think I know where you're coming from Guy...
But nobody has the power to force the Mother of your children into rehab again and again until it sticks. We are powerless over others.
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Thanks Jazz,
Nope, I have let go and let God in regards to my wife. If anyone is going to intervene on her behalf, it will have to be her family.
Nope my interest is just intellectual curiosity. I have read both sides of the debate, I think nytepassion write's the best on letting go and letting God. My personal experience came to this conclusion also.
But, if biomedical research continues in this same vain, then new drugs may be able to "heal" a person of an addiction, and offset the requirement of person totally destroying their lives while serving their addiction.
In regards to cost, not sure. The cost of long term incarceration, deaths, abandoned children etc as compared to forced treatment for a period of a few months.
It will take greater minds than my own to figure this out!
Nope, I have let go and let God in regards to my wife. If anyone is going to intervene on her behalf, it will have to be her family.
Nope my interest is just intellectual curiosity. I have read both sides of the debate, I think nytepassion write's the best on letting go and letting God. My personal experience came to this conclusion also.
But, if biomedical research continues in this same vain, then new drugs may be able to "heal" a person of an addiction, and offset the requirement of person totally destroying their lives while serving their addiction.
In regards to cost, not sure. The cost of long term incarceration, deaths, abandoned children etc as compared to forced treatment for a period of a few months.
It will take greater minds than my own to figure this out!
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I thought the most interesting comment in the interview was that brain chemistry of addiction ultimately morphs into a mode similar with brain chemistry associated with "instinctive survival".
Wow! The ULTIMATE catch 22! Maybe folks will start to understand why it's so difficult to beat a chemical addiction. Fighting battles on even unknown fronts for the individual. It's just not about habits and behavior or some latent childhood root cause trauma, but very real brain chemistry changes.
Wow! The ULTIMATE catch 22! Maybe folks will start to understand why it's so difficult to beat a chemical addiction. Fighting battles on even unknown fronts for the individual. It's just not about habits and behavior or some latent childhood root cause trauma, but very real brain chemistry changes.
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Originally Posted by Jazzman
It's just not about habits and behavior or some latent childhood root cause trauma, but very real brain chemistry changes.
To answer Guy's question, I think it would be great for a drug to be made available to those who want it, but it always comes down to personal choice. What I would like to see first is the stigma removed from addiction. While there will always be those who choose to use an addictive substance for pleasure, I have witnessed first hand those who are desperate to overcome it. Perhaps acceptance and non-blame would let people "hit their bottom" much sooner. A huge part of the disease is overcoming the denial you have it.
There are no easy solutions. Understanding the physiological aspects of addiction has brought a lot of peace to my mind and life.
Thanks again, Guy, for posting that.
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Join Date: May 2005
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There is one thing I know for sure - I can't cure the alcoholic. So I don't spend time anymore researching wonderful new therapies, drugs and rehab centres.
When she is ready to quit drinking, I pray those those wonderful therapies will be there for her, but I have no control over that.
When she is ready to quit drinking, I pray those those wonderful therapies will be there for her, but I have no control over that.
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Hello guy,
It's not a premise, it's a summary. If you take a bit of time to browse thru www.niaaa.nih.gov you'll see all the medical documentation that demonstrates the biological foundations of addiction. It's a _huge_ amount of stuff, so give yourself some time.
Think of a different disease, say heart failure. If you force people into a hospital for heart disease what happens next? If you let them out will they magically stop eating greasy foods and go to the gym every day? What if they don't? Do you keep them locked up forever because they refuse to give up greasy foods and go to the gym?
It is not possible to protect people from themselves. If they don't want to make improvements in their own health and life of their own will then locking them up will just make them more stubborn. As long as the pain of eating greasy foods and not excercising is less than the pain of a bad heart then folks will continue to live unhealthy.
Alcoholism is no different. "Hitting bottom" is true of all diseases, and of many things in life. Even co-dependants have to "hit bottom". At some point the pain of being tangled with an addict becomes greater than the pain of facing our own "dependence" on the relationship.
Mike
Originally Posted by guyinNC
A question for the board. If you accept that the premise of this...
Originally Posted by guyinNC
... Would the better treatment be forcing them into a hospital...
It is not possible to protect people from themselves. If they don't want to make improvements in their own health and life of their own will then locking them up will just make them more stubborn. As long as the pain of eating greasy foods and not excercising is less than the pain of a bad heart then folks will continue to live unhealthy.
Alcoholism is no different. "Hitting bottom" is true of all diseases, and of many things in life. Even co-dependants have to "hit bottom". At some point the pain of being tangled with an addict becomes greater than the pain of facing our own "dependence" on the relationship.
Mike
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Originally Posted by DesertEyes
Think of a different disease, say heart failure. If you force people into a hospital for heart disease what happens next? If you let them out will they magically stop eating greasy foods and go to the gym every day? What if they don't? Do you keep them locked up forever because they refuse to give up greasy foods and go to the gym?
It is not possible to protect people from themselves. If they don't want to make improvements in their own health and life of their own will then locking them up will just make them more stubborn. As long as the pain of eating greasy foods and not excercising is less than the pain of a bad heart then folks will continue to live unhealthy.
It is not possible to protect people from themselves. If they don't want to make improvements in their own health and life of their own will then locking them up will just make them more stubborn. As long as the pain of eating greasy foods and not excercising is less than the pain of a bad heart then folks will continue to live unhealthy.
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If you have not listened to Science Friday, you guys should give it a try. It downloads for me automatically every week. Topics range from global warming, to space science, coral bleaching etc. Aways good shows, entertaining and informative. Plus, unlike many of the other shows on NPR , it manages to leave the political biases out of its reporting.
Hope you enjoy!
Hope you enjoy!
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Originally Posted by pmaslan
Clancy....just click on the link he posted in his 2nd post.....
Mike! Tech support!!! I downloaded the file and it's 18 megs MP3 compressed. Anyway to put it on the SR server?
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Originally Posted by Jazzman
... Hey the audio archive link is not available anymore!...
http://www.sciencefriday.com/feed/
Originally Posted by Jazzman
... Anyway to put it on the SR server?
Mike
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