The Way the ‘New York Times’ Covers Other Drugs Still Doesn’t Cut It
The paper of record has finally backed marijuana legalization. Yet it continues to fête drug warriors and stigmatize addiction.
Browsing Tag
Substance
41 posts
How I Survived as a Homeless Crack Addict
Living rough in Los Angeles drove me to lengths of desperation that included robbery and trying to sell off my own body parts. But six years after kicking crack, I draw strength from my darkest times.
Most of Us Still Don’t Get It: Addiction Is a Learning Disorder
Addiction is not about our brains being "hijacked" by drugs or experiences—it's about learned patterns of behavior. Our inability to understand this leads to no end of absurdities.
We Try More Drugs Than Anyone Else, and 9 Other Ways Addiction Is Different in America
Whether it's our drug use, our laws, or the treatment options we have on offer, the U.S. frequently stands out. And that's not always something to celebrate.
The Future of Addiction: Stanton Peele’s Predictions for the Next 40 Years
My book Love and Addiction, published in 1975, proved prescient in the decades that followed. How optimistic should we be as we look further ahead?
Teen Drug Dealers Should Not Be the Victims of Our Thirst for Revenge
A Minnesota high school student overdosed on a synthetic drug she got from some fellow teens. The prosecutor is charging them as adults—with third-degree murder—in order to "send a message." That's the wrong one.
Can Recovery High Schools Keep Kids Off Drugs?
Treatment for teens with drug problems can be stigmatizing and punitive. Advocates say that recovery high schools offer a kinder, less dogmatic, and more effective alternative.
This Cop Says It’s Time to Legalize All Drugs
Who exactly is prohibition supposed to be helping? After many years of enforcing drug laws as a police officer, Diane Goldstein's experience with an addicted family member changed her attitude for good.
Why Mentally Ill People Should Have Access to E-Cigarettes
People with mental illnesses have a unique, intense relationship with smoking, which can ease distress as well as kill. Now that a much safer version of the habit is available, it's no time for the anti-smoking lobby to play Nurse Ratched.
Why ‘Substance Abuse’ Is a Label We Should All Reject
There is clear evidence that the phrases "substance abuse" and "substance abuser" harm, as well as disparage, people with addiction. It's time to ditch these terms.