Different Roads

A commentary advocating for abstinence oriented treatment in England. It also bristles that the characterization of addition as a chronic illness appears set up arguments for drug maintenance and endless treatment.

I suppose context is important. We've (the U.S.) been operating in an environment where treatment has been getting increasingly less intense and shorter. While in the U.K., MMT has been the dominant response to opiate addiction.

Strong words:

There is an old saying about addiction treatment – ‘if you want drugs, go to treatment services; if you want to stop drugs, go nowhere near drug services’.

...

If you have workers in a system that is predicated on a belief of crime reduction and chronic disease management, the self-fulfilling pessimism permeates the client and the worker and generates limited goals.