Bruce Alexander Questions An Outdated Myth About Addiction Although most medieval superstitions have died out, the myth of demon possession lives on. In the 19th century, many people came to believe that anyone who voluntarily consumed distilled liquor became helplessly possessed, having no choice but to feed an insatiable craving for the "demon drink". This idea continued to be applied into the 21st century, essentially unchanged, to a parade of new drugs, including morphine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, meprobamate, barbiturates, methylamphetamine, benzodiazepines and ecstasy. [continues 661 words]
Vancouver recently made an important breakthrough by proposing the "four pillars" approach to dealing with drug addiction, recognizing the importance of harm reduction as well as treatment, prevention and enforcement. This is a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, it won't stop the rising tide of addiction because it doesn't get at the root causes. When we talk about addiction, we generally mean substance addiction -- to alcohol and illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine. But this is a very narrow way of looking at the problem. A walk down Hastings Street will take you through Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, where the most visible forms of addiction can be seen. But it will also take you through the financial district, and past casinos, restaurants and bars. There are addicts here, too -- people with addictions to money, power, gambling, sex, work and food, for example, that may be just as harmful as substance addiction. [continues 469 words]
Vancouver recently made an important breakthrough by proposing the "four pillars" approach to dealing with drug addiction, recognizing the importance of harm reduction as well as treatment, prevention and enforcement. This is a step in the right direction. But unfortunately, it won't stop the rising tide of addiction because it doesn't get at the root causes. Today when we talk about addiction, we generally mean substance addiction-to alcohol, and illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine. But this is a very narrow way of looking at the problem. A walk down Hastings Street will take you through Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, where the most visible forms of addiction can be seen. But it will also take you through the financial district, and past casinos, restaurants and bars. There are addicts here too-people with addictions to money, power, gambling, sex, work, and food, for example, that may be just as harmful as substance addictions. [continues 537 words]
BETWEEN: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN Respondent -and CHRISTOPHER CLAY Applicant I, Bruce Alexander, of the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, MAKE OATH AND SAY AS FOLLOWS: 1. I am a professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University. I have specialized in the study of drug addiction and drug use, and I have been doing research in this area since 1970. Attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is a true copy of my curriculum vitae. [continues 1916 words]
