Addiction Treatment: A Professional Review©
Kenneth G. Wilson, Ph.D.
“One size does not fit all”
This sight is dedicated to providing evidence based information on what treatments for addiction are available and how to choose among them and to demystify and critique current beliefs regarding what addiction is.Â
“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality”
-John F Kennedy
When I begin my book in 2015 the annual death rate from Nicotine, Alcohol and other Drugs (NAD’s) were right at half a million. After completing my research and finishing the book in 2017 it had climbed to over 600,000 and is expected to continue to climb. It is during this election cycle that our elected representatives finally publicly acknowledged that we had an epidemic. It was in part the addition of those in the breadbasket and rust belt of the United States turning to drugs for relief that finally got their attention. However, they don’t have an explanation of how those that previously had a moral compass or whose addiction gene had somehow become activated through epigenetics, went astray and succumbed to addiction? I contend that it is the impoverished “Brain Disease Model of Addiction” (BDMA) that impedes our understanding of the true nature of addiction which is;
the need to quiet an agitated brain whose job it is to maintain equilibrium. The real culprits are trauma and stress and ineffective and inappropriate strategies designed to deal with them.
What is the official position of the governmental entities that allocate funds for research on and the treatment of addiction, officially, a Substance Use Disorder (SUD)? The entities are the National Institute of Health (NIH) and its departments specifically charged with addressing addiction; the National Institute of Alcohol Addiction and Abuse (NIAAA) and the National Institute of Drug Addiction (NIDA). The American Medical Association (AMA) has a division comprised of approximately 600 physicians who define themselves as addiction specialists. They are the American Society of Addiction Specialists (ASAM). The American Psychological Association (APA) agrees with the BDMA. The official position of these organizations is as follows;
Addiction is defined as; a chronically relapsing brain disease characterized by a hijacked brain, compulsive drug seeking and accompanied by self-harm.
Obviously if we are treating a biological disease it is the job of “real medicine” to treat it. That is why the majority of money that is allocated goes to neuroimaging, brain scans and the search for a pharmacological solution to modify the action of neurotransmitters rather than an explanation of how stress activates the fight or flight syndrome which creates disequilibrium and the need to self medicate.
It is not my position that neuroimaging and the search for pharmaceutical interventions have not provided us with much-needed information about the neural pathways, the connections between reward centers and the sites that psychoactive street drugs affect sections of the brain. The problem is the promise of investing the majority of our funds in the search for improvements in the amelioration of this disorder have not lived up to their promise and expectation. Wayne Hall* and his colleagues critique the BDMA in the following way: “The BDMA is not supported by animal and neuroimaging evidence to the extent its advocates suggest: it has not helped to deliver more effective treatments for addiction: and its effect on public policies towards drugs and people with addiction has been modest. The focus of the BDMA is on disordered neurobiology in a minority of severely addicted individuals, which undermines the implementation of effective and cost-effective…”
The use of the terms addicts and addiction is not meant to be pejorative it is simply part of the lexicon understood by the general public. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is the term that is now accepted by the professional community.
Therefore, this blog is being created to provide; a presentation of the existing research, my own psychometric assessments of addicts and my experience treating addicts. These data provide accurate and updated information regarding the real causes and appropriate treatments for addiction. It is being created by Dr. Kenneth G Wilson. My initial interest was physiological psychology (neuroanatomy and neurophysiology) the brain until it was brought to my attention that to study the mind at a cellular level was reductionist. I turned instead to personality and social psychology. I am a licensed psychologist primarily trained as a scientist. I have spent the last 40 + years of my life studying and treating mental disorders with a specialty in addiction. However, since I’m not a real doctor I cannot belong to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, (ASAM) and cannot present to them an alternative hypothesis regarding the multiple causes of addiction. ASAM is the official voice of the American Medical Association on what addiction is and how it should be treated. I turned instead to addicts who have conquered their chronically relapsing brain disease with their mind and the treatment professionals who know that addictive behavior is ultimately a decision. This is neither a Nancy Reagan “Just Say No” position; I acknowledge there are psychological reasons that a segment of the population has not been capable of using substances recreationally. Nor is it to suggest that using the MIND to control the BRAIN is a simple proposition. The treatment of the chronic/intermittent drug user versus the time limited is a complicated process best practiced in a relatively long term therapeutic community such as The Stout Street Foundation Inc.
The book that this blog represents is designed to address the current belief system, paradigm, which ignores the ability of the human organism to choose rather than be slavishly driven by the basic biology of the brain. With the current paradigm the brain is dominant over the mind. The appropriate paradigm would acknowledge that the mind can in fact establish and make peace with the events which created the initial disequilibrium and find another way to accomplish the brain’s desire for quiescence.
Wayne Hall, et. al., The brain disease model of addiction: is it supported by the evidence and has it delivered on its promises? Lancet Psychiatry 2015 Volume 2: 105-10.www.thelancet.com/psychiatry Vol 2 January 2015
You continue to beautifully express your thoughts and feelings in an impressive manner. Yes, talking about it helps and I am sure you will help many recognize they are not alone and they too will survive and succeed. Erinna Cale Esra
This will be a excellent site, would you be interested in doing an interview about just how you developed it? If so e-mail me! Veda Stevy Boff
There is certainly a great deal to find out about this topic. I like all the points you have made. Lydie Troy Rebekkah
Hello there, I found your web site by way of Google whilst searching for a similar subject, your site got here up, it seems good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks. Idalina Anatole Mora
Having read this I thought it was extremely enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this information together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile. Laurel Farly Kasevich
Thanks again for the article. Thanks Again. Keep writing. Cora Puff Astrea
Hello! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? Brunhilde Graeme Creigh
I would approve.
Wonderful blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Many thanks
Greetings! Very useful advice within this article! It is the little changes that will
make the most significant changes. Many thanks for
sharing!
If some one wants expert view about running a blog after that i propose him/her to
pay a visit this web site, Keep up the fastidious work.
Ahaa, its good conversation concerning this piece of writing
at this place at this website, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting at this place.
Thanks for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I
am waiting for your next post thanks once again.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about
this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is magnificent
blog. An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.
I am actually delighted to glance at this
weblog posts which consists of plenty of valuable information, thanks
for providing these kinds of statistics.
Howdy! I could have sworn Iíve been to your blog before but after going through some of the posts I realized itís new to me. Anyways, Iím definitely happy I stumbled upon it and Iíll be book-marking it and checking back often!
When someone writes an piece of writing he/she maintains the idea of
a user in his/her brain that how a user can be aware of it.
Therefore that’s why this paragraph is outstdanding.
Thanks!
Just want to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness in your post is just great and i
could assume you are an expert on this subject.
Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep updated
with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work.
I always spent my half an hour to read this weblog’s posts all the time along with
a mug of coffee.
I need to mention regarding a very amazing recording of Getting Through
Middle of East Borneo Forest for Very Traditional Roasting chicken on the Ricefield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEUqYxb-I7w
I’d really appreciate it if you would go check them ⛰
Worth watching!
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you need to write more about this subject, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people do not speak about such subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!
This is the right website for anybody who wants to find out about this topic. You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally would want toÖHaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic which has been written about for years. Excellent stuff, just excellent!
First of all, thank you for writing such an article. every word is full of knowledge
First of all, thank you for writing such an article. every word is full of knowledge
First of all, thank you for writing such an article. every word is full of knowledge
First of all, thank you for writing such an article. every word is full of knowledge
You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the most useful websites on the net. I most certainly will recommend this web site!
What i do not realize is if truth be told how you are now not really a lot more well-appreciated than you may be now. You are very intelligent. You realize therefore considerably on the subject of this topic, made me for my part consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women are not interested except it is something to do with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs outstanding. All the time take care of it up!
You’re consequently amazing. Oh my Lord. Our god bless you.
Your means of telling all in this paragraph is really good, all be capable of simply be aware of it, Thanks a lot.|
Very neat article.Much thanks again. Want more.
Thank you ever so for you blog article.Thanks Again. Awesome.
I got what you mean , thanks for posting.Woh I am lucky to find this website through google.
Hi there. I found your blog by means of Google even as searching for a similar topic, your site came up. It looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Wow this is a really great. Don’t stop the great work
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe that this web site needs a great deal more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read through more, thanks for the information!
Thank you for every other informative blog.
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!
I simply want to say I am all new to blogging and certainly loved you’re web blog. Likely I’m going to bookmark your site . You really have excellent articles. Appreciate it for sharing your blog site.
Hi there, I found your site by way of Google at the same time as
searching for a comparable subject, your website came up, it appears
to be like great. I have bookmarked it in my google
bookmarks.
Hello there, simply was aware of your blog thru Google, and found that it is
truly informative. I’m gonna be careful for brussels.
I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of folks will likely
be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Heya are using WordPress for your site platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need
any coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would
be really appreciated!
Not much coding knowledge required, good lick.
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your website in internet explorer,
would test this? IE nonetheless is the market leader and a large part of other people will
miss your magnificent writing because of this problem.
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking
more of your excellent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social
networks!
I am now not positive where you’re getting your info, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
Thanks for magnificent info I used to be looking for this info for my mission.
I am in fact thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this great paragraph at at this place.