Over in the UK, addiction is becoming more a recognized problem among the older population. Addiction is, and always has been, a problem at all levels of society and in all places. All perceptions of addiction that limit it to a “certain kind of people” are preventing us from reaching and helping people with this disease.
It may be only tangentially related to addiction, but this helpful infographic is a representation of how far we still have to go to make medicine as efficient as some of our other industries.
Let it never be said that we are unfair to 12-step programs: this study finds that participating in and helping with such programs can help maintain sobriety. It’s worth noting, however, that AA isn’t the only way, and that any population within AA is already a biased sample.
On the other hand, some forms of “treatment” are downright predatory.
This article is a nice look at how our dualistic, dichotomy-based society likes to draw a clear line between “healthy” and “sick”, or “alcoholic” and not, which is clearly nonsense.
As always, we here at Bel Air Center for Addictions wish you a fun and safe weekend!