Dirk Hanson over at Addiction Inbox has a great post about recent SAMHSA findings about addiction/recovery stigma in this country. In its survey, SAMHSA found that fewer than half of the respondents said they would be comfortable living next door to someone in recovery from drug abuse. Of course, millions of Americans already live comfortably next to someone in recovery from drug abuse. They just don’t know it.

Other interesting findings, as blogged about by Hanson:

• “Almost one-third would think less of a person with a current addiction.”

• “Almost three-quarters of young adults agree with the statement that people who are addicted to alcohol could stop if they had enough willpower. Twice as many young adults age 18 to 24 believe that willpower could play a decisive role in recovery from addiction than does the general population.”

• “In general, the older a person is, the more likely he or she is to think less of someone who is in recovery from drugs or alcohol, and the less likely he or she is to feel comfortable with someone in recovery from alcohol or drug abuse. In general, respondents are more comfortable with someone in recovery from alcohol abuse than drug addiction.”

• Overall, respondents feel that persons who are addicted to illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin are much more of a danger to society than those addicted to alcohol, prescription drugs, or marijuana.”

• “Females are much more likely than males to agree that individuals who are addicted to any of the substances mentioned in the survey are dangers to society. This is particularly true in relation to alcohol addictions.”

• “Women are more likely than men to agree that a person in recovery from an addiction to prescription drugs or illicit drugs can live a productive life.”

• “Respondents see programs to help people with addictions to alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs more favorably than treatment programs designed to help people with addictions to illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines.”

The first review for America Anonymous is in. I’m grateful that it’s a starred review from Kirkus:

Compassionate case studies of addicts in varying phases of dependency, from New York Times Magazine contributing writer Denizet-Lewis. In his candid, approachable introduction, the author unexpectedly levels the literary playing field by divulging on his own sex addiction. “It inevitably colors the way I conceptualize this topic,” he writes, noting that his worse relapse ever occurred during the writing of this book.

All eight of the people he followed over the course of two years are gripping subjects, and the author describes their plights in seasoned, dexterous prose. Denizet-Lewis visited Bobby, a heroin addict in his mid-30s living in drug-addled South Boston whose hopeless struggle was exacerbated by his younger brother’s addiction. The author also got to know a spry West Palm Beach octogenarian who was a regular at Alcoholics Anonymous; a “cartoonishly large” bisexual bodybuilder/escort hooked on steroids; a compulsively overeating Jewish (radio DJ) and mother; a dejected young man in his 20s easily inebriated by pornography and the vice trade; a former junkie turned addiction counselor; and a Harlem grandmother who lost everything to her crack habit.

Follow-up chapters produce empathetic, in-depth character studies of each. Almost all of them benefited from a potent regimen of psychoanalysis, the intensive 12-step recovery program and group support meetings. (Only a shoplifting mom rarely made time for specific group meetings.) The lifelong commitment and dedication needed to remain sober proved overwhelming for many, and each had suffered devastating relapses from which they struggled to recover. 

An arresting, personal glimpse into the merciless world of drug and behavioral addiction.

1) WHAT CAN CHOKE AND CALIFORNICATIONTEACH US ABOUT SEX ADDICTION? 

Very smart piece by Daniel Engber in Slate. I’m going to force myself to sit through Choke this week, and I’ll have a review up soon. (In other news, word is that Duchovny is out of rehab today.) Slate Piece.

2) Drug Users Taking a Hit From High Gas Prices. Taking a Hit

Friday was an historic day for addiction recovery in this country. Congress passed the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which ends discrimination by insurance companies against addicts and alcoholics who need treatment. (It was attached to the bailout bill.) The legislation is far from perfect, but it’s a HUGE first step. groundbreaking.html