Grace, I enjoyed reading this.
A couple things that came up as I was reading:
- How you define spiritual has important implications on the interpretation of these studies. Are these experiences spiritual or cognitively experiential?
- Rick Doblin’s view of net-zero trauma by 2070 through the use of psychedelics is wildly fantastical. You can’t possibly put that much weight on a substance that would not be able to deliver on such a mass scale. Sounds a little too utopian.
- Michiel Van Elk’s talking of bias in his colleague’s study reminds of a quote found in Jones and Butman’s book, “Modern Psychotherapies,” "It is now broadly acknowledged that even the most basic empirical observations do not occur in a contextless void. Humans make even the most basic observations from the context of pre understanding of reality that influence what we see. For this reason it is now commonly said that all facts are theory laden' or as we argued earlier, that facts always reside in a web of belief."
- Lastly, I align with Jonathan Lubecky’s reasoning to oppose decriminalizing. Michael Emlet makes a similar case in his book “Descriptions and Prescriptions.” Psychiatric medication is merely a tool, not a cure-all.
https://lnkd.in/g2vEMQmW
[From the article above:
"This reframing served to blur the lines between ordinary sadness and clinical depression, pathologizing normal emotional responses to life's challenges. By doing so, it created a much larger market for antidepressant medications, even in cases where their necessity or efficacy might be questionable."]
It's something I discuss with my clients...
While it's critical and admirable to proactively take care of our mental health, it's also imperative that we do not fall into the trap of nitpicking at ourselves/others over every little flaw/deficit/hardship or perceived flaw/deficit/hardship.
Human-beings are not meant to be projects.
Michael Fulwiler- thanks for initially alerting me and others to this.
Many thanks to Nicholas Swartzwelder for highlighting this good news for the world of psychedelics. While there are some toxicological data available for tryptamines, incluidng 5-MeO-MiPT, this early stage clinical study will provide further information for a scientific review. The potential benefits for this substance to treat mental health conditions are enormous. I look forward to following this benefit-risk evaluation.
#FDA#Healthcare#MentalHealth#Psychadelics
Some good news in the world of psychedelics on a Friday. The article highlights the continued progress in psychedelic research, particularly with the FDA approval of an early-stage clinical trial for Mindstate Design Labs. exploring moxy’s potential to treat conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Despite setbacks in other psychedelic studies, such as the FDA's rejection of MDMA for PTSD treatment, this new trial is another proof point of the agency's openness to advancing psychedelic research.
The FDA's support for these trials is encouraging for the field, indicating a willingness to explore novel approaches for addressing mental health conditions.
#FDA#Healthcare#Mentalhealth#Psychedelics#Science
Methamphetamine abuse represents one of the most challenging and destructive substance use disorders, with devastating impacts on individuals, families, and societies. Characterized by profound neurological and psychological consequences, including organic psychosis, methamphetamine abuse requires innovative and multifaceted therapeutic strategies. This essay explores the therapeutic possibilities for managing methamphetamine addiction and compulsive behavior.
Gosh, I’ve been saying this for fifty years now. Nobel Prize anyone?
https://lnkd.in/efj6_Ekn
In 1977, Stanton, based on Love and Addiction, wrote the first in his Redefining Addiction series, whose abstract (below) demolished decades of scientific thought about addiction. It was ignored for 40 years.
By 2017, a series of books and articles in Scientific American by Carl Hart, Maia Szalavitz, and Marc Lewis (all of whom acknowledge Stanton’s primacy in this area) undercut the entire disease model of addiction, while international conferences were organized to rethink the addiction process.
According to Nick Heather:
Stanton Peele has done as much as anyone to reveal the inadequacies, absurdities, and injustices of the idea that addiction is a disease and, specifically, that it is a disease of the brain. In a constant flow of influential books, articles, and blogs over more than forty years, he has persuasively extended the critique of the disease theory of addiction beyond the scientific community to the general public. When the disease theory is eventually replaced by a more rational and humane approach in the popular understanding of addiction, Stanton Peele will be first in line to receive the plaudits, and those of us who broadly share his view will owe him a profound debt of gratitude.
— Nick Heather, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Alcohol & Other Drug Studies, Northumbria University, UK; co-editor, Evaluating the Brain Disease Model of Addiction.
Here is the original idea.
International Journal of Health Services, Volume 7, Number 1, 103-124,1977.
Copyright 1977 Stanton Peele.
Redefining Addiction
I. Making Addiction a Scientifically and Socially Useful Concept
Stanton Peele
Addiction is both a more complex—and a more common—phenomenon than either medical personnel or laymen have realized. It is impossible to link addiction as a medical syndrome to any one drug or family of drugs, or to trace it to a specific biological mechanism. As scientists have uncovered more data leading to these conclusions, they have turned away from employing the term "addiction." Yet many drug researchers and workers in the helping professions continue to make incorrect assumptions about both addiction and drug use. In this paper the author attempts to broaden the applicability of the addiction concept in order to give it meaning. With this broader approach, we find that many involvements that people become engaged in follow the pattern of addiction, while some involvements with supposedly addictive drugs do not follow this pattern. The addiction cycle is explored by means of the following psychological definition: An addiction is any compulsive activity or involvement which decreases a person's ability to deal with other aspects of his life to the point where that activity or involvement comprises the dominant source of emotional reinforcement and identity for the person.
Addiction Psychologist | Professional Speaker | Podcast Host | Opinions stated are my own
Great journalism piece below examining the question of how we define addiction; more specifically, whether we invoke the word or idea of "disease."
Personally, I don't. To me, addiction is essentially a metastasized coping strategy. Someone is trying to find peace, relief, enjoyment, etc. - all very natural human goals that all of us care about. People struggling with addictive behaviors just happened to land on a strategy that ultimately is a bait and switch: it looks great at the start, but ultimately ends up being hurtful and vampiric.
I don't like using the word "disease," though. I think it sounds overly pathologizing, and also has a flavor of disempowerment regarding personal agency in the process of change and recovery. I'm a big supporter of the biopsychosocial model of addiction: that addiction is a syndrome that involves problems and interplay between biological, psychological, and social domains. Recovery means addressing all of them. The label of "brain disease" falls short of capturing the complexity.
#addiction#recovery#psychologyhttps://lnkd.in/gGVJWNvY
Great journalism piece below examining the question of how we define addiction; more specifically, whether we invoke the word or idea of "disease."
Personally, I don't. To me, addiction is essentially a metastasized coping strategy. Someone is trying to find peace, relief, enjoyment, etc. - all very natural human goals that all of us care about. People struggling with addictive behaviors just happened to land on a strategy that ultimately is a bait and switch: it looks great at the start, but ultimately ends up being hurtful and vampiric.
I don't like using the word "disease," though. I think it sounds overly pathologizing, and also has a flavor of disempowerment regarding personal agency in the process of change and recovery. I'm a big supporter of the biopsychosocial model of addiction: that addiction is a syndrome that involves problems and interplay between biological, psychological, and social domains. Recovery means addressing all of them. The label of "brain disease" falls short of capturing the complexity.
#addiction#recovery#psychologyhttps://lnkd.in/gGVJWNvY
Freelance Copywriter for ADHD Coaches and Companies | Your ADHD copy and content partner | Support for you to show up authentically and consistently for your clients and business without burning out | LGBTQ+ advocate 🌈
Mental Health News
Withdrawing From Anti-Depressants
This is an article about a recent antidepressant study in the U.K.
It’s part of a larger program called REDUCE, studying the effects of withdrawing from long term use of antidepressants.
(Btw- I take issue with the title)♥️You can stay on antidepressants forever - as long as you live - there is hope.
Curbing inappropriate use of antidepressants? Let’s do it. Saves money, decreases side effects…
But - I have questions. What’s the tracking and follow up? How long?
Things to think about. I’m interested to learn more. Especially if they are targeting a certain type of depression, such as postpartum - would make sense.
What do you think? 🤔
#depression#antidepressants#mentalhealth#therapy#mentalhealthcontent#research#mentalhealthwriter
Psilocybin is a chemical in certain types of mushrooms that grow on nearly every continent. The mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional ceremonies. Some people use them recreationally or to try to improve their mental health, although researchers still have much to learn about psilocybin’s potential uses as a medicine.
Also known as shrooms or magic mushrooms, the mushrooms can cause people to experience distorted sights and sounds and lose their sense of time and space. People who take psilocybin may also feel intense emotions ranging from bliss to terror and may have physical side effects such as increased heart rate or nausea.
Along with other partners at the National Institutes of Health, NIDA is supporting research into psilocybin as a potential clinical treatment for substance use disorders and other mental illnesses.
For private legal guided psilocybin truffle experiences, please visit Psychedelicinsights.comhttps://lnkd.in/emcVV2Kw
🌿 Exploring New Frontiers in Mental Health Treatment 🌿
We're excited to share this insightful article from The Guardian that dives into the emerging use of psychedelics and hallucinogens as potential treatments for depression.
From innovative therapies to the latest scientific findings, this piece highlights the transformative potential of these treatments and their impact on those struggling with depression. As we continue to seek more effective and holistic approaches to mental health, it's crucial to stay informed and open to new possibilities.
Read more about these groundbreaking developments and join the conversation on how we can better support mental wellness.
#MentalHealth#Psychedelics#DepressionTreatment#InnovativeTherapies#MentalWellness
👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ei3iFR9x
Senior Project Coordinator at WSP | Leader in New York Army National Guard | Husband and Father
3moGrace, I enjoyed reading this. A couple things that came up as I was reading: - How you define spiritual has important implications on the interpretation of these studies. Are these experiences spiritual or cognitively experiential? - Rick Doblin’s view of net-zero trauma by 2070 through the use of psychedelics is wildly fantastical. You can’t possibly put that much weight on a substance that would not be able to deliver on such a mass scale. Sounds a little too utopian. - Michiel Van Elk’s talking of bias in his colleague’s study reminds of a quote found in Jones and Butman’s book, “Modern Psychotherapies,” "It is now broadly acknowledged that even the most basic empirical observations do not occur in a contextless void. Humans make even the most basic observations from the context of pre understanding of reality that influence what we see. For this reason it is now commonly said that all facts are theory laden' or as we argued earlier, that facts always reside in a web of belief." - Lastly, I align with Jonathan Lubecky’s reasoning to oppose decriminalizing. Michael Emlet makes a similar case in his book “Descriptions and Prescriptions.” Psychiatric medication is merely a tool, not a cure-all.