The dos and don’ts of helping a drug addict recover | Maia Szalavitz | Big Think

Summary

The transcript discusses the ineffectiveness of brain surgery for addiction compared to methadone, which is a safer and non-invasive treatment. It emphasizes the importance of methadone and buprenorphine in reducing death rates by 50% for opioid addiction. The speaker advocates for compassion and empathy in addressing addiction, rather than tough love, and stresses the need for evidence-based treatment. They also advise employers to support employees with addiction by advocating for them and ensuring treatment is evidence-based, not profit-driven.

Takeaways

• 🚫 Brain surgery for addiction is not more effective than methadone and is an invasive procedure.
• 💊 Methadone and buprenorphine are the best current treatments for opioid addiction, reducing the death rate by 50%.
• 🛑 These treatments allow users to lead normal lives without being high or impaired, contrary to the misconception of substituting one addiction for another.
• 🤝 Addiction is a learning disorder, not a moral failing, and should be approached with compassion and empathy, not tough love.
• 🏢 Employers should create a supportive environment for those with addiction, focusing on inclusion and safety rather than adversarial measures.
• 🚫 Firing an employee with addiction is not a helpful intervention; it can lead to homelessness and death rather than recovery.
• 🤔 It's crucial to approach potential addiction issues with respect and without assumptions to avoid damaging trust.
• 🧠 A thorough psychiatric evaluation is essential before seeking treatment to understand the underlying issues and appropriate services needed.
• ⚖️ The addiction treatment industry can be profit-driven and lacks standardization, so it's important to advocate for evidence-based care.
• 🏥 Employers can significantly influence the quality of care by demanding that treatment providers they work with follow evidence-based practices.

Q & A

What is the speaker's opinion on using brain surgery for addiction treatment?

The speaker believes that brain surgery for addiction treatment, specifically using electrical stimulation, is not more effective than methadone and is an invasive procedure.

According to the speaker, what are the two best treatments for opioid addiction?

The speaker states that methadone and buprenorphine, which are opioid agonists, are the best treatments for opioid addiction.

How do methadone and buprenorphine contribute to harm reduction in opioid addiction?

These treatments cut the death rate by 50 percent, regardless of whether the person continues using drugs or not, thus providing a significant harm reduction benefit.

What is the speaker's perspective on the concept of addiction being a learning disorder?

The speaker views addiction as a learning disorder rather than a sign of being a bad person, emphasizing the importance of understanding and compassion.

Why is it important to approach someone with addiction with compassion and empathy according to the speaker?

The speaker argues that compassion and empathy are crucial because research shows they are the best ways to help people with addiction, as opposed to tough love or adversarial approaches.

What is the speaker's advice on how employers should handle employees with addiction?

The speaker advises employers to approach employees with addiction as allies, not adversaries, and to help them realize that addiction is not a sin but a condition that can be managed with support.

What is the speaker's stance on the idea of 'tough love' in addiction treatment?

The speaker is against 'tough love' approaches, suggesting that they can lead to negative outcomes like homelessness and death, rather than helping the person with addiction.

Why is it important to not assume a problem is drug-related when approaching someone with potential addiction?

The speaker emphasizes that assuming a problem is drug-related can damage trust and that it's important to approach the person with respect and without preconceived notions, as there could be other underlying issues.

How does the speaker suggest approaching a conversation about potential addiction with someone?

The speaker suggests approaching the conversation from a place of concern and offering help, rather than accusation, and focusing on the individual's well-being.

What is the speaker's recommendation for the initial step in getting help for someone with addiction?

The speaker recommends a complete thorough psychiatric evaluation by an unbiased professional as the first step to understand the problems and the appropriate services needed.

Why is it challenging to find evidence-based addiction treatment according to the speaker?

The speaker points out that the addiction treatment industry is largely based on reputation and advertising, making it difficult to find programs that provide evidence-based care, unlike other areas of medicine.