The Institute for Addiction Study

If you are dealing with addiction in your family, a website that you may not have bumped into yet but which may be a valuable source of information for you is The Institute for Addiction Study (http://www.addictiondoctor.com/index.html).

Per their website The Institute for Addiction Study:

” is a center of learning and training where innovative strategies relating to addiction are developed and shared that foster the acceptance of addicts as full and valued members of society.  At the Institute, we search out, review and present the latest information in addiction science in order to:

• provide a conduit through which knowledge can flow from research to families and individuals in need

• create treatment that is effective, humane and seeks to return the addict to his or her full potential with dignity

• advocate for the welfare of addicts and promote policies that treat addiction as a disease and addicts as patients”

We want to challenge current thinking about addiction in order to inform individuals, groups and families of the current controversies within addiction treatment so they can make informed decisions about recovery….

One of the ways that the Institute approaches these objectives is by questioning whether addiction is a disease or a choice. The Institute approaches their position in part from neurophysiologic research. With the help of this research, the Institute then concludes that addiction is in fact a disease while also noting that this position does not take away responsibility from the addict. In an article written by Dr. Kevin McCauley, an Institute team member, he states

“Do addicts need to take responsibility for managing their addiction? Certainly. But so do all patients. So do patients with multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. The problem I have is in holding one group of patients more responsible than other groups of patients. Most people will take responsibility to the exact extent that they know how, or are supported. That is what good medicine is all about.”

Please note that this is just a glimpse of what is in their website. Other information includes: books to read, articles, other web resource material, etc.. Definitely, a website you may want to peruse.