Pubdate: Wed, 09 Mar 2016
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2016 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Don Mathis
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n131/a04.html

ANOTHER MYTH ABOUT HEROIN

Maia Szalavitz advanced the thoughtful national conversation on 
addiction by dissolving some of the most widespread misconceptions 
about the heroin epidemic in her March 6 Five Myths essay [Outlook]. 
Yet she did not highlight what many of us in the treatment and 
recovery world see as the most inaccurate and troubling myth. That 
is, the belief that addiction is a moral failing, a sign of weak or 
poor character. Rigorous research and neuroscience have proved that 
substance use disorder is a bona fide disease.

Ms. Szalavitz's assertion that "people who recover without help can 
teach those who need it" is highly optimistic and not grounded in 
fact. Those in recovery are often helped and strengthened by peers 
and counselors. An adage in the treatment and recovery world, 
however, is "heroin is stronger than love." That principle also 
applies to the very small odds of effectiveness offered by persuasive 
argument to someone captured by substance use disorder.

Don Mathis, Havre de Grace, Md. The writer is a board member of 
Doctors for America.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom