Addiction in Society

Addiction--the thematic malady for our society--entails every type of psychological and societal problem.

Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D., has been researching and treating addiction since he wrote Love and Addiction (1975). He also wrote 7 Tools to Beat Addiction. See full bio

December 8, 2008, Addiction

Comments on "Stuck in the Mud of De Nial, or Harm Reducer in Chief?"

Stuck in the Mud of De Nial, or Harm Reducer in Chief?

By Stanton Peele on December 8, 2008 in Addiction in Society

Let's see, which of my views on addiction is least popular? That most heroin, cocaine, and crack users don't become addicted, and only a small minority of addicts remain addicted? That most alcoholics reduce their drinking over their life spans? That most smokers, alcoholics, and drug addicts recover without treatment? I know - that reducing smoking is possible and healthy (that is, healthier than not reducing it).

Recent presidents have been a boon for my crazy views - George W. quit drinking and smoking on his own (okay, with a religious epiphany). Barack Obama quit his early drug use when he got serious about life. Now, Barack is tackling the biggest taboo of all - cutting out his cigarette addiction but not quitting smoking altogether!

wording

Submitted by Christopher Ryan on December 8, 2008 - 3:14pm.

I was struck by Obama's carefully worded response to Brokaw. What I heard him say was "I don't think you'll see me breaking those rules (against smoking in the White House)." This isn't quite the same as saying he wasn't going to smoke there, as most journalists have reported it. He said that Brokaw (and the public) wouldn't see him doing it. He appears to be reserving the right to do what he wants, while promising not to send a potentially-harmful message to kids.

Sounds about right to me. It's none of our damned business if he smokes there (or what he smokes, for that matter), as long as he's sharp on the job.

Hell, given the past 8 years, I guess that's no longer a requirement for the office.

Who cares if he smokes, as

Submitted by Anonymous on March 18, 2009 - 8:27pm.

Who cares if he smokes, as long as he gets the fucking job done. Smoking doesn't affect your character. It makes your breath stink, just like the shit every newspaper and journalist exhales from their mouth.

Avid Addicted Crazy Smoker. Ohio. Thanks for the cig $ raise...FDA. Happy April Fools.

Nice article and great post.

Submitted by california rehab on April 21, 2009 - 1:24am.

Nice article and great post. It really doesn't matter if our leader smoke as long he will get the job done. Its part of his system that maybe will help to do the job.