Much of the modern medical conception of addiction is based on animal studies performed during the 1960s and 70s.  In the experiments, a needle was placed into the leg of a caged rat.  The intravenous apparatus was connected to a lever in the cage that administered a drug, generally either cocaine or heroin.  The rats soon learned that by pressing the button they would get a dose of the drug, and the rats were soon ‘addicted’.  They pressed the button continually, ignoring food sources, sometimes until death.  When the drug was withdrawn, the rats would go through characteristic withdrawal symptoms – anxiety, jumpiness, sleeplessness, etc.
Continue reading Rat addicts and the science of addiction →

Don’t believe that addiction to drugs and alcohol is a myth?  Well, just listen to the addicts themselves.  Here’s an entertaining and inspiring speech by radio/tv personality and comedian, and addict, Danny Bonaduce.  He spent 17 years on drugs and alcohol, and was in and out of rehab 28 times.  He’s speaking at an East Las Vegas Narcotics Anonymous meeting.   Continue reading Listen to the addicts themselves →

For every person ‘addicted’ to drugs there is a person who is equally addicted to ‘helping’ them. Continue reading Addiction is a relationship disease →

The “Addiction” Myth

The Myth:

Society perpetuates a pervasive myth about drug and alcohol addiction. The myth goes as follows: Certain people, whether because of biological or psychological reasons, are prone to drug problems and addiction. Continue reading The Addiction Myth →