Witnessing Brilliance: Justice Department Cannabis Crackdown
Federal Crackdown on Cannabis 2018 by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. On January 4th 2018, Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions issued a memorandum to all United States Attorneys stating that the federal government’s hands-off approach to enforcing cannabis laws was “unnecessary.” The memorandum rescinded the federal government’s hands-off approach to cannabis, effective immediately, due to “Congress’s determination that marijuana […]
Hollywood Scandals Remind Us of Addiction’s Roots
Hollywood Scandals Remind Us of Addiction’s Roots by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. What does Hollywood have to do with addiction’s roots? The recent wave of sexual abuse revelations in Hollywood is simultaneously tragic and inspiring. The courage, resilience, and fortitude demonstrated by victims publicly disclosing some of the most disturbing and traumatic details of their lives […]
A Mirror for The Language of Addiction
Language of Addiction: Using Treatment Jargon to Describe Treatment By Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. The insulting, dehumanizing rhetoric of the addiction ‘treatment’ industry never ceases to amaze and dishearten. The language of addiction used by the industry is purportedly used for the addicts’ own good – to break them down so they can be rebuilt. People […]
The Goal of Addiction Treatment Completely Misses the Mark
The Entire Aim of Addiction Treatment is Off by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. The goal of nearly the entire field of addiction treatment is to help people stop using substances forever. However, a closer look at the goal of stopping forever reveals fatal flaws. This article aims to expose the flaws in the goal of stopping […]
Teen Boot Camps: America’s Legacy of Torturing Children
by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. In modern, “sophisticated” society we like to believe in our lofty righteousness. We are dignified, upstanding examples of integrity. We parade about in our chrome-wheeled, semi-electric metal boxes. We adorn ourselves in proper fitting attire from a respectable department store. It is a nice, comforting bubble most of us float around in. Meanwhile, […]
God’s Place: Is A Higher Power in Recovery Necessary?
Is a Higher Power in Recovery Necessary? By Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Most approaches to addiction treatment tout a relationship with a higher power as essential to success. Peddling salvation and threatening damnation are age-old endeavors for humans, rehabs doing so may just be a modern incarnation of indulgences. But what if they’re right? What if […]
Drugs Are Medicine
Drugs Are Medicine by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. One of the more hypocritical aspects of today’s culture is the distinction between medicine and drugs. Two weeks ago we explored the power harnessed in a single word. The stark contrast between the words ‘drugs’ and ‘medicine’ underscores the vastly different connotations that can be elicited by synonyms. […]
Self-Defeating Thoughts: The Weight of the Word
Self-Defeating Thoughts: The Weight of the Word by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Humanity has a keen knack for degrading our most powerful creations. Many creatures produce sounds, but in an inspired moment of momentous artistry humans harnessed the production of sound to form the word. From the word language was born. Language, in turn, gave voice to […]
Why Do People Use Drugs? The Relationship Between Emotions and Addiction, pt. 1
Why Do People Use Drugs? Emotions, pt. I: Overview by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Whether we want to admit it or not emotions run our lives. Reason and rationality can help us put on the breaks and make alternative choices, but emotions are the primary motivation for all we think and do. Emotions are the simple answer […]
Mental Health Diagnosis: History, Validity and Implications
The Mental Health Diagnosis: History, Validity and Implications by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Today’s Diagnosis is Tomorrow’s Joke A former client recently sent me a list of reasons for admittance to a psychiatric hospital between the years of 1864-1889. The list was being shared on the internet as a joke, highlighting how many mental health diagnoses […]