FEATURED post
10/08/16
08/08/16
06/08/16
Smarmore Clinic
To follow on from my post earlier today: I just found out that Castle Craig Rehab Centre outside Edinburgh have a clinic in Ireland now also which opened last year outside Ardee. Great to know! Unfortunately it is a private clinic, but hopefully and very likely they will encourage the Department of Health to invest in them so that they can take public health service patients or the Dept. of Health will invest in the same type of model in other places.
I have never been to a drug treatment centre but I have been to a lot of AA meetings and I believe that (in no particular order) a) alcoholism and all other serious addictions are mental illnesses/diseases b) I believe there is a higher power in the universe and c) and I believe the 12 step programme works.
One size does not fit all but I agree with and support this model.
I am interviewing Tony Duffin the Director of the Ana Liffey Drug Project in his office on Tuesday afternoon and hope to maybe interview someone Smarmore Clinic at some later stage also.
I have never been to a drug treatment centre but I have been to a lot of AA meetings and I believe that (in no particular order) a) alcoholism and all other serious addictions are mental illnesses/diseases b) I believe there is a higher power in the universe and c) and I believe the 12 step programme works.
One size does not fit all but I agree with and support this model.
I am interviewing Tony Duffin the Director of the Ana Liffey Drug Project in his office on Tuesday afternoon and hope to maybe interview someone Smarmore Clinic at some later stage also.
05/08/16
Castle Craig, Scotland
To follow on from my post about (serious) addictions being mental illnesses or diseases here is the drug rehab centre in Scotland I was talking about. I hope to go over to them soon to interview them; if I can't get a friend to come over with me I will do an interview with them by phone.
"We treat alcoholism and drug addiction as an illness and promote abstinence as essential for long-lasting recovery. Our aim is to help patients recover through an intensive, personalised programme that combines medical treatment, 12 Step and other psychiatric therapies and complementary therapies."
Castle Craig website
Castle Craig Twitter
Castle Craig Facebook
Castle Craig Youtube
"We treat alcoholism and drug addiction as an illness and promote abstinence as essential for long-lasting recovery. Our aim is to help patients recover through an intensive, personalised programme that combines medical treatment, 12 Step and other psychiatric therapies and complementary therapies."
Castle Craig website
Castle Craig Twitter
Castle Craig Facebook
Castle Craig Youtube
04/08/16
Winston Churchill (6)
I have to say that intelligence is important for a lot of pursuits also though! :)
01/08/16
29/07/16
Is drug addiction a mental illness? Yes, I think so
I've been thinking about this recently after reading of a drug rehab centre in Scotland advocate this belief. Below is an article from the U.S NIH. If serious drug addiction is a mental illness or illnesses then surely being dangerously addicted to gambling would be another mental illness.
Is drug addiction a mental illness?
Yes, because addiction changes the brain in fundamental ways, disturbing a person's normal hierarchy of needs and desires and substituting new priorities connected with procuring and using the drug. The resulting compulsive behaviors that override the ability to control impulses despite the consequences are similar to hallmarks of other mental illnesses.Addiction changes the brain disturbing the normal hierarchy of needs and desire.
In fact, the DSM, which is the definitive resource of diagnostic criteria for all mental disorders, includes criteria for drug use disorders, distinguishing between two types: drug abuse and drug dependence. Drug dependence is synonymous with addiction. By comparison, the criteria for drug abuse hinge on the harmful consequences of repeated use but do not include the compulsive use, tolerance (i.e., needing higher doses to achieve the same effect), or withdrawal (i.e., symptoms that occur when use is stopped) that can be signs of addiction.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/comorbidity-addiction-other-mental-illnesses/drug-addiction-mental-illness
28/07/16
27/07/16
UNAIDS Reports July 2016 & The International Conference on AIDS 2016 - Global Solidarity Near FM
Breda Gahan, Concern Worldwide, at a demonstration in support of health workers in developing countries at the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa July 2016
26/07/16
24/07/16
22/07/16
Concern Worldwide, UNAIDS 2016 Reports and the 2016 International Conference on AIDS
Breda Gahan Concern with her Dóchas Global Citizen of the Year Award 2015
I will be interviewing Breda Gahan from Concern on Global Solidarity on Near FM next week about the latest UNAIDS reports and the 2016 International Conference on AIDS in Durban in South Africa which she was at this week.
Breda on Twitter: @Health_HIV2030
UNAIDS website
UNAIDS on Twitter: @UNAIDS
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