“It all comes from the same plant, maaaan.” That’s the typical I’m-outta-whatchya-want-try-this-instead drug-dealer pitch I thought of when I saw this food documentary last night. I mean, I’ve written about how refined sugar makes your body make fat before. But what I didn’t realize until I saw this was how (addictively speaking) comparable high-fructose corn syrup is to cocaine or heroin. Yes, the claim seemed awfully dramatic at first –.. Read More
4 strange addictions (and how to dismount your own fixation ferris wheel)
The thing I love best about “My Strange Addiction” is how normal it makes me feel. Until I realize that, in a way, these people are kinda… just like me. Sure, I prefer to go after the usual suspects (used to be drinking or benzo’s, but now it’s caffeine, figs, and probably too much internet), but aren’t we all the same? Yes? Right? I mean… some of these interviews with.. Read More
Are blaming and taking responsibility mutually exclusive?
I write about addiction a lot – articles I’ve seen and whatnot. But what I don’t usually spotlight are the comments I peruse after the article. For example, this one struck me today and I wasn’t sure why at first: “I’m a social worker who works to rehabilitate chronically homeless addicts in the USA. This article raises a lot of valid points that the non-addicted population needs to be aware.. Read More
New welfare drug screens seem good – but are they enough?
It’s great that Michigan’s gonna require welfare recipients to take drug tests The legislation will issue mandatory treatment for those who test positive. And that’s fantastic. But will it be sufficient? You may be thinking “Wait a second. Jail and being cut off is exactly what we want for those money sucking junkies!” And I get where you’re coming from. But that could also be punishment for what may have.. Read More
Six 12-step meetings we need to create for my entertainment.
You’ve heard of 12 step programs before, yes? They’re meant to help people addicted to drugs or food or sex get their lives back on track after forming detrimental habits they can’t seem to easily kick solo. Awesome and transformative as they are, I’ve always felt like more than one group is too much. It separates types of addiction into different cliques when their central problem is all the same.. Read More
No such thing as a geriatric junkie
I once heard the phrase “There’s no such thing as a geriatric junkie.” Actually, I might have tweaked that (pardon the pun) slightly to sound more alliterative. Nonetheless, I always knew the general message was pretty much true – but my reasoning was apparently wrong. Here I was, thinking that whoever said it along with the “not even once” or “this is your brain on rainbow and unicorn inducing powder”.. Read More