Addiction in Society

Addiction—the thematic malady for our society—entails every type of psychological and societal problem
Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D.

Prince's Death and the Opioid Addiction/Overdose Myth

The emergent narrative of Prince's drug use and death makes no sense, but simply serves to reinforce popular but misguided ideas about addiction and deaths due to drugs.

Donald Trump's Personality vs. the U.S. Constitution

Donald Trump's bullying/narcissistic personality puts him on an opposition course with the U.S. Constitution.

What I Learned About Alcohol and Alcoholism at the Hospital

You get some sense, and some nonsense, at the hospital about alcohol.

Creating Reality: Castro, Trump, and Simi Valley

We expect, when we view something, to know whether or not it is true. It turns out that our views are malleable, which can be used against us politically and otherwise.

The Trauma Searchers, Gabor Maté and Ted Cruz

As social trauma festers and grows, people magnify hurts to their detriment.

What About Shaming People Into Recovery?

Mindfulness and Loving Kindness are Buddhist practices with compelling psychological bases. They argue for the legalization of drugs, harm reduction, and self-empowering treatment.

Jessica Jones' Alcoholism

"Jessica Jones" doesn't do alcoholism the old-fashioned way. Despite her trauma she isn't degraded, stands up for herself, and makes her own decisions, whether drinking or not.

People Are Dying en Masse from Our Approach to Addiction

Should the National Institute on Drug Use be less boastful of our effectiveness in attacking addiction through the chronic brain disease model of addiction?

Is Addiction a Lifelong Disease While PTSD Isn't?

Can addiction be a lifelong disease while PTSD is not? NY Times columnist David Brooks says that both are true, although he may be confused by contradictory instincts and beliefs.

What Community-Based Addiction Treatment Looks Like

While addiction treatment has become more intensive/expensive and centered around residential stays, the most effective way to deliver addiction services is to make access easier.

Do Professional Sports Reflect Modern American Whining?

Are sports stars and their management reflecting a culture-wide loss of authority?

When Did Baseball Managers Become Mensches?

On-field baseball and other sports management seemingly has matured. Now if only the players would follow suit!

Steve Jobs: Make People Happy via Products, Not Personally

Steve Jobs and Sam, a local musician, have two different approaches to life. One wants to make people happy in his presence, the other by his presents, or products. Which approach is better?

Why Roger Federer Is Great

Roger Federer has remained at the very top of an individual professional sport, tennis, through his mid-thirties. What about him allows him to do this, and what can we learn from it?
ED Jones/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump Has a Sister Fixation

Is Donald Trump laboring under some perceived childhood deficiency academically? Does that account for his ceaseless boasting?

Meaningless Things We Say in the Aftermath of a Gun Slaying

What we must watch and listen to after every gun massacre. But does it do any good? And is it good for us?

Should Amy Winehouse Have Been Taught Controlled Drinking?

Was there any way to prevent the 27-year-old genius, Amy Winehouse, from dying by binge drinking? She consulted well regarded doctors and drug counselors, as described in the new documentary, Amy. They told her to stop drinking, which was perhaps a good idea, one that Winehouse herself endorsed, but never succeeded at.

Why Did Harper Lee Change Her Portrait of Her Father?

Imagining the psychological journey Harper Lee went through to offer a lesser view of her father in "Go Set A Watchman."
Henry Borgard, Lynn Julian, Scott Weisberg. Credit Dominick Reuter/Reuters

Reflections on Victim Impact Statements at Murder Trials

Statements at sentencing hearings provide a window into the minds of the individuals who perpetrate crimes, their victims, and those who love or are related to them.

The Diseased States of America

If addictions are life-long diseases, we're all doomed.

Charleston: 8 Questions About Race and Guns for Republicans

Can we try to get beyond the meaningless banalities uttered by politicians following the Charleston mass murder, with a gun, by a probable racist?

My, We're Doing Well!

We have been targeting rebuilding inner-city communities, integrating minority youth into society, improving education and life prospects for deprived populations, creating better community policing, etc., for more than a half century. And we're exactly where we started out.
iStock/Used with Permission

Why Robert Durst Confessed

Robert Durst seemingly went out of the way to confess to his crimes (if that is what he did). Why would he take such a risk as he ages and is in poor health?

The Psychology of Brian Williams

Brian Williams' transgressions result from a key source of male insecurity—not playing on the high school football team. Some men may never overcome this "shortcoming" no matter how famous and admired they become.
Shutterstock: Used with permission

NFL Message: Just Go Punch Someone

The NFL wants players to eschew unjustified, irrational, emotionally-driven violence—except if they feel like hitting people.

American Addiction Treatment Is Shame-Based

We shame people into quitting their addictions. Does this make sense?

Addicted to Punta (Pardon the Slang)

Sex beats drugs nine ways from Sunday.

On the Nature and Treatment of Addiction

We are turning the corner in defining and treating addiction—or are we?

How to Make a Support Group Safe

The murder of Karla Brada while attending AA by her AA partner raises what makes a support group safe. A number of policies have been advanced by both professionals and lay people who have been in "the rooms." Unfortunately, not one of these suggestions would have affected the Brada case. That is because none addresses the underlying issues presented by 12-step groups.

What Karla Mendez Brada’s Murder Tells Us About AA

CBS's 48 Hours, in a segment it did Saturday about the murder of Karla Mendez Brada by a man she met at AA and continued to attend AA with, claimed AA is a great success that has one unfortunate problem. But, instead, the case of Karla's death points out all of the inadequacies of—the real harm attributable to—our leading approach to alcoholism and addiction.

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