Faces of Addiction in the Bronx

A photographer named Chris Arnade has made some amazing portraits of people living in the Bronx (New York) who are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction.  These images are really wonderful in that they show no matter how down and out someone might be, they are still human beings and deserve respect and compassion.

Link:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/arnade/sets/72157627894114489/

New Study from UC-Berkeley Says Wealthy More Likely to Lie, Cheat, and Steal

Among the findings were that:

• Study suggests people who are better-off are more likely to lie, cheat 
• Drivers with newer and more expensive cars were more likely to cut off other motorists 
• Students higher on the socioeconomic ladder more likely to engage in unethical behavior

I recommend reading the entire article, however, since it is really insightful.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/27/health/rich-more-unethical/index.html

UW-Madison Study on Facebook and Depression

Megan Moreno, at the UW-Madison's medical school, has been looking at Facebook use and depression among adolescents.  Her findings have produced not only some good questions, but information about possible interventions as well.

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/us/facebook-posts-can-offer-clues-of-depression.html?_r=1&hp

Yoga and PTSD Research at UW-Madison

The fact that yoga is being studied as a treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder should come as a welcome sign that the times are changing.



Link: http://video.channel3000.com/watch.php?id=40366

Madison's Detox Center in Flux

I found this article to be really insightful.  Changes are being made to how local officials respond to chronic drinking related behaviors and intoxication itself.

Link:  http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/blog/no-vacancy-policy-change-sparks-furor-over-limited-bed-space/article_a9990ea2-5ce0-11e1-894a-001871e3ce6c.html

Health Coaching

I had not ever heard about health coaching before, but it seems like a good idea to have a variety of professionals filling this role.  Check out this video from the Center for Spirituality and Health at the University of Minnesota.

Link:  http://www.csh.umn.edu/healthcoaching/home.html

Supreme Court: Race Discrimination More Important Than Disability

Whether it was their intent or not, the Supreme Court gives the impression that racial discrimination for white college students is more important that how cities accommodate people with disabilities on sidewalks.

Link: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/21/3752581/us-supreme-court-declines-to-hear.html

BBC Article About the Myth of the 8 hour Sleep Cycle

I know that I can sleep 7.5 hours a night and feel completely fine during the day, but it's when I screw up my schedule by staying up too late and ending up with only 6 or something that I feel groggy throughout the day.  I use a web app called Sleepytime to calculate how many 45 minute sleep cycles I will need a night.

Link:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783

Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan Discusses Sobriety and Recovery on Eve of Recall Election

Very interesting article.  I wish the Mayor success in his recovery!

Link: http://www.thefix.com/content/bob-ryan-sheboygan-mayor9690?page=1

Childhood Gender Nonconformity Linked to Abuse, PTSD

The study, published today in the journal Pediatrics, found that individuals displaying gender nonconformity in childhood had higher abuse rates as well as incidence of PTSD.  As adults, individuals were also more prone to alcohol or substance use disorders.

Link:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241914.php

Can We Please Stop Calling People Alcoholics and Drunks (@ChrisRickertWSJ)?

I don't usually feel that it's necessary to call out someone who incorrectly or ignorantly throws around words like 'alcoholic' or 'drunks,' but since I live in Madison and am a regular reader of the Wisconsin State Journal I think I have a small right to respond to his latest piece titled, "Managing, not curing, disease of alcoholism may be best option."  (WSJ, Feb. 18, 2012)

First of all, the view that alcoholism is a disease is a widespread, yet controversial theory.  Although it is a very mainstream idea, accepted by the American Medical Association, and many other individuals and groups in the medical and counseling community, but not everyone believes that addiction fits the definition of disease.  Addiction may be a problem, or a major difficulty, but it that doesn't mean it's a disease. In fact, there is a pretty big debate going on right now about it within those who provide behavioral health, the substance use community at large, as well as the editors of the DSM V.

Secondly, using labels like 'alcoholic' or 'drunks' is stigmatizing and reinforces the social acceptance of using these terms.  One should instead use person-centered language placing the individual first (in fact, this should be something all journalists do with all their writing).  Furthermore, just because someone is drinking a lot or has been in trouble with the law doesn't mean that they are an 'alcoholic' or 'habitual drunk' at all.  Are all college students who binge drink 'alcoholics?'  I don't think so.  For some reason, it's seems like it's o.k. for Chris to talk about homeless people or people who are prone to being arrested (this could be due to other factors, incidentally, including race, class, or even the way the person dresses or talks), but not the many people who drink to excess but don't get in trouble for it.  Labels like this may be of use in a diagnostic setting, or as a personal reflection, but they shouldn't be used to cover an entire 'class' of people.  It's the same with how members of other communities refer to themselves - it is not necessarily appropriate for members outside that group to use the same terms.

I did not find Chris' column to be entirely objectionable.  I will agree with him that people who drink should be allowed to drink.  Banning people from buying liquor or preventing inebriated people from entering homeless shelters is akin to not letting someone with a gambling addiction have an internet connection or be able to drive (lest they find a place to gamble).  We need more acceptance of peoples' choices in order to help them access services and resources which might actually help them get their lives back on track.  What does that have to do with buying liquor?  Imagine that someone has PTSD, and this is part of the reason why they drink - how would that person feel knowing that they are banned from entering stores that plenty of other people use (or misuse) all the time?

I don't mean to suggest that acceptance and increased access to shelters alone will solve the problem of substance misuse.  Treatment and peer support are important parts of the equation.  Health insurance coverage with mental health parity will help. Addressing social inequality would be good too.  Meanwhile, journalists should try to cut down on adding to the stigmatization of people who drink or who have problems related to substance use.

Paul McCartney Gives up Pot

Sir Paul, age 69, has decided to stop smoking marijuana after many years of regular use.  It will be interesting to see if he has any regrets.

Link:  http://www.thefix.com/content/paul-mccartney-pot-marijuana9671

Study Finds That Kindness In Males is About Mating

Not that we should be entirely surprised, but researchers have published a paper purportedly showing that males will exhibit kindness more often if they know that a female they are interested in is paying attention.

Link: http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/02/16/is-male-kindness-actually-a-peacock-tail/

Updates to Addiction Terminology Coming to DSM V in 2013

This article talks about the DSM V (the manual that counselors and psychologists use to diagnosis mental health and addiction 'disorders') and its possible dropping of terms like abuse and dependence in the next version of the book - coming out in 2013.

Link:  http://www.thefix.com/content/DSM-V-new-definition-addiction-dependence-abuse8010

Pot Use Doubles Risk of Severe or Fatal Auto Accidents

A study published in the British Medical Journal has found evidence showing that marijuana use three hours or less before driving doubles the risk of severe injuries or fatalities while driving, with people under age 35 at highest risk.

Link: http://www.thefix.com/content/marijuana-driving-car-crashes9632