Understanding Addiction

Hi all. The reason you haven’t heard from me for a few weeks is because I finally had that surgery I’ve been waiting for. Cervical spine surgery, bone growing where it’s not supposed to, I’ll spare you the details. But what I’ll tell you about is my revisiting the land of addiction. This happened to […] (Read the rest.)

Hello all. I have to admit I’m becoming addicted (again!) — this time to addiction memoirs. I’ve read four in the last four months, all written by alcoholics: Drinking: A Love Story — Caroline Knapp. Drunk Mom — Jowita Bydlowska. Drunkard: A Hard-Drinking Life — Neil Steinberg. The Couch of Willingness — Michael Pond & […] (Read the rest.)

Here’s most of an email I recently received:   > Subject: why does the addiction resurface when we least expect? > Marc, > > I really enjoyed your memoir. In so many ways I feel I can relate…. > > So… Here’s my question… > > Why, after being sober for 7-months, did my craving […] (Read the rest.)

In the comment section following the last post, a fruitful dialogue sprang up between Matt (the author of the post) and Cheryl, a reader. In a comment following his post, Matt admonished us (addicts, ex and otherwise) to remain aware of our vulnerabilities (like fluctuating willpower, loss of perspective), to not get too cocky, to […] (Read the rest.)

A LOT of you replied to my brief ramblings on Harm Reduction. Some of you see it as almost poisonous — a kind of quicksand making it more difficult to quit using. Others see it as a valuable perspective for helping people “where they are,” without imposing conditions or restrictions. Some of you see it […] (Read the rest.)