tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772182113499451603.post1215732222744979846..comments2024-03-27T10:50:53.692-05:00Comments on Real Psychiatry: Can A Philosophy For Living Prevent Addiction?George Dawson, MD, DFAPAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474899831557543486noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772182113499451603.post-29389872326035954652017-02-03T13:33:03.133-06:002017-02-03T13:33:03.133-06:00"But the baleful influence of elements of pop..."But the baleful influence of elements of popular entertainment (AKA "culture") that are misunderstood and/or disliked and/or feared by older people is likely less of a contributor to the incidence of becoming addicted than are poverty, unemployment, "bad" neighborhoods, persecution by police and other authorities, poor healthcare services and other dysfunctional aspects of our society. Looking to philosophical platitudes for solutions diverts attention from what may actually work."<br /><br />The current heroin epidemic in upper middle class to affluent youths with the associate mortality speaks against poverty as being a social etiology. Prior to that there was the issue of disproportionate punishment for crack cocaine users (poverty stricken neighborhoods) versus powdered cocaine users in more affluent neighborhoods. On the issue of healthcare services addiction services were the first victims of managed care rationing - the level of service is generally pathetic and transferred to the non-medical public sector as much as possible so I doubt they are saving anybody.<br /><br />On the cultural issue - I would not minimize it to the baleful media elements. There are clear differences. The teaching example I use is the difference between growing up in Northern Minnesota in the 1970s and in the early 21st century if you are a middle class teenager whose father and grandfather were alcoholics. You are clearly at risk but does the risk increase greatly going from needing to avoid alcohol and cannabis (primarily) in the 1970s to the same two substances plus heroin plus methamphetamine plus synthetics, etc. I would argue that it does increase risk, just as the risk is high for any inner city youth who has to walk past 5 or 6 drug dealers a day to get to middle school. <br /><br />I am sure there are some economists out there who might see it as enterprising drug dealers and supply and demand. But none of this happens unless it is part of your culture and you are not inoculated unless you can set yourself apart from it.<br /><br />I certainly agree that widespread attempts to educate youths on the advantages of a philosophy for living would be a very low yield enterprise for the same reasons that religion and algebra don't gain wide traction. The yield seemed fairly low in my freshman philosophy course, but the focus was on more typical philosophy.<br /><br />I do think getting it out there does offer some hope for prevention for the people who are open to it both at a primary and secondary level.George Dawson, MD, DFAPAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03474899831557543486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772182113499451603.post-36084570642926340642017-02-03T10:19:47.993-06:002017-02-03T10:19:47.993-06:00Massimo Pigliucci speculated that it may be time t...Massimo Pigliucci speculated that it may be time to resume inculcating a philosophy of life in children as a substitute for the despised blandishments of popular culture. While some adolescents do indeed glom onto some form of idealism and enthusiastically profess its merits, perhaps for a decade or two prior to disillusionment; and while it has become fashionable to describe or tout "life-changing" events, in general moralistic and quasi-moralistic precepts, neither life lessons nor what pass for profound experiences penetrate deeply into nor pervade the important behavioral patterns or choices of their target population. The stereotyped teachings imposed on children in former, even not so former, times now generally seem quaint, laughable or downright distasteful echos of a hypocritical and confining society, the kind of stuff 19th century novels exploited with great relish. To be sure, there is comfort, rescue from dread of chaos and despair, hope, and a sense of belonging and self-worth to be gained from words of wisdom, adages and, yes, from philosophical musings and positions and, of course, from novels; and there is good reason to believe that exposing young people to a broad range and rich array of such would benefit them and, to some extent, provide a bit of protection against falling into an addiction. But the baleful influence of elements of popular entertainment (AKA "culture") that are misunderstood and/or disliked and/or feared by older people is likely less of a contributor to the incidence of becoming addicted than are poverty, unemployment, "bad" neighborhoods, persecution by police and other authorities, poor healthcare services and other dysfunctional aspects of our society. Looking to philosophical platitudes for solutions diverts attention from what may actually work.Mpulierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15404761920495585210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772182113499451603.post-59282147074488040862017-01-24T20:20:23.214-06:002017-01-24T20:20:23.214-06:00Freedom from expectations is a great tenet and I a...Freedom from expectations is a great tenet and I agree it is helpful. Happiness=Reality-Expectations<br /><br />The freedom from desire is a bit more problematic, especially after studying drive theory and Freud. That sounds a lot like denial and failed repression. Plus even if one somehow manages to be celibate, I don't know how you don't desire good food.James O'Brien, M.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14994350319492582321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772182113499451603.post-17444613635156588042017-01-24T14:27:54.227-06:002017-01-24T14:27:54.227-06:00It also beats many contemporary approaches to pain...It also beats many contemporary approaches to pain management:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfBpQQY78FcJames O'Brien, M.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14994350319492582321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772182113499451603.post-36747646435948809862017-01-24T10:36:46.320-06:002017-01-24T10:36:46.320-06:00Agree - I have been impressed with the number of p...Agree - I have been impressed with the number of people who found Buddhism to be a superior alternative to endless psychotherapy. <br /><br />I think that Buddhism was mindfulness before there was mindfulness therapy.<br /><br />As far as I can tell Stoicism and Buddhism share a lot of common concepts and Massimo points out it is an alternate belief system to American consumerism. Just learning how Buddha invented the system is awareness expanding. George Dawson, MD, DFAPAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03474899831557543486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772182113499451603.post-36500504858794409192017-01-24T10:18:41.861-06:002017-01-24T10:18:41.861-06:00A lot of this relates to expectations management a...A lot of this relates to expectations management and inability to delay gratification (see marshmallow experiment). Eastern Buddhism in addition to Western Stoicism is a nice alternative to the horrid popular culture (thanks MTV and Instagram). The real Buddhism, not the California good vibes kind that works its way into Burning Man.James O'Brien, M.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14994350319492582321noreply@blogger.com