Blowing Smoke : Rethinking the War on Drugs Without Prohibition and Rehab

Alcohol, opiates, cocaine and marijuana, among other drugs, have been used and abused for millennia. Prior to the disease model approach to drug addiction, which posits that addiction is a psychological and biological problem and that sufferers are victims, societies had a workable solution: let people consume what they want, and let informal cultural controls reinforce responsible behavior. Legal sanctions were reserved for any use that affected the safety of others. Blowing Smoke proposes an approach to the war on drugs that returns us to the pre-disease-model era. Dr. Reznicek asserts that addiction is not a medical problem to be treated in rehab or by prohibiting substance use. Rather, he debunks the disease model, arguing that it has exacerbated the problem by telling drug abusers that they are not responsible for their behavior, that they are sick, that they are not to blame. He skillfully argues for a new approach to drug use and abuse that requires a shift in the way we fight the war on drugs. Dr. Reznicek provides a new framework for understanding drug abuse: the habit model. Habits are practiced as long as they provide comfort, and are abandoned when they cause pain. The habit model is more consistent with current neuroscientific knowledge and it accounts for the widely observed phenomenon that most substance abusers don’t change until they “hit bottom,” the point where the consequences of drug use finally outweigh its benefits. Using the habit model, Dr. Reznicek suggests the solution to the drug problem is to turn back the clock, and to take lessons from societies that use social controls and consequences to deal with addiction and drug abuse. He recommends the legalization of drugs for adults, the implementation of social practices to dissuade abusers, and the end to the use of rehab as a way of handling addiction. Blowing Smoke shows how such an iconoclastic approach can work for us today. Alcohol, opiates, cocaine and marijuana, among other drugs, have been used and abused for millennia. Before the disease-model approach to drug addiction, which posits that addiction is a psychological and biological problem and that sufferers are victims, societies had a workable solution: let people consume what they want, and let informal cultural controls reinforce responsible behavior. Legal sanctions were reserved for any use that affected the safety of others. Blowing Smoke proposes an approach to the war on drugs that returns us to the pre-disease-model era. Dr. Reznicek debunks the disease model, arguing that it has exacerbated the problem, and provides a new framework, more consistent with current neuroscientific knowledge: the habit model. Habits are practiced as long as they provide comfort, and are abandoned when they cause pain. Dr. Reznicek recommends the legalization of drugs for adults and the implementation of social practices to dissuade abusers, and shows how such an approach can work for us today.--From publisher description "Alcohol, opiates, cocaine and marijuana, among other drugs, have been used and abused for millennia. Before the disease-model approach to drug addiction, which posits that addiction is a psychological and biological problem and that sufferers are victims, societies had a workable solution: let people consume what they want, and let informal cultural controls reinforce responsible behavior. Legal sanctions were reserved for any use that affected the safety of others. Blowing Smoke proposes an approach to the war on drugs that returns us to the pre-disease-model era. Dr. Reznicek debunks the disease model, arguing that it has exacerbated the problem, and provides a new framework, more consistent with current neuroscientific knowledge: the habit model. Habits are practiced as long as they provide comfort, and are abandoned when they cause pain. Dr. Reznicek recommends the legalization of drugs for adults and the implementation of social practices to dissuade abusers, and shows how such an approach can work for us today"--Provided by publisher Introduction Murder, thievery, and drunkenness Demon rum Racism, progressivism, and drug laws The power of paradigms The brain on drugs Deconstructing rehab Rehab's effectiveness : who's really in denial? The habit model Controlling teen drug use Controlling adult drug use Conclusion Appendix a: signs of drug use in children Marijuana Sedative-hypnotics Cocaine Methamphetamine Ecstasy (MDMA) LSD (acid) Heroin PCP (phencyclidine) Club drugs Prescription drug abuse Inhalants Drug paraphernalia A note about drug-testing Appendix b: medications used to treat addictions Appendix c: diagnosing addictions Bibliography About the author. Introduction Murder, Thievery and Drunkenness Demon Rum Disease Crusaders Racism, Progressivism and Drug Laws The Power of Paradigms The Brain on Drugs Deconstructing Rehab Rehab’s Effectiveness: Who’s Really in Denial? The Habit Model The Case for Drug Legalization Controlling Teen Drug Use Controlling Adult Drug Use Challenges and Opportunities Conclusion Appendix A: Signs of Drug Use in Children Appendix B: Medications Used to Treat Addictions Appendix C: Diagnosing Addictions Bibliography About the Author Blowing Smoke argues that we are losing the drug war because of our devotion to the disease model of substance abuse. That model has become the driving force for our two main strategies in the war: prohibition laws and drug rehab. The book traces the history and science behind each to show how they paradoxically enable drug use.