tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post7870583855525241755..comments2023-10-05T04:44:25.174-05:00Comments on Addiction Inbox: Addressing Criticisms of the Disease ModelDirk Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-47767718435331828602016-03-01T20:28:54.156-06:002016-03-01T20:28:54.156-06:00info at dirkhanson.orginfo at dirkhanson.orgDirk Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-13982972224564574572016-03-01T16:18:28.723-06:002016-03-01T16:18:28.723-06:00Hello Dirk, I love your posts. Is there a way I co...Hello Dirk, I love your posts. Is there a way I could send you a private message? I just wanted to ask you something about your blog. If not I understand.Shane Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13234153554956775878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-66182973557506416892016-02-25T10:56:29.188-06:002016-02-25T10:56:29.188-06:00Sure, sounds great.Sure, sounds great.Dirk Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-12798553539405395482016-02-25T05:10:17.981-06:002016-02-25T05:10:17.981-06:00Great post, Dirk.
I was going to post a block quo...Great post, Dirk.<br /><br />I was going to post a block quote and a link, but it's hard to pull anything out.<br /><br />Would you be open to me reposting the whole thing with attribution and a link?Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14175956075716524961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-29450482481918187162016-02-17T20:58:25.620-06:002016-02-17T20:58:25.620-06:00I think your view of the semantics of addiction ma...I think your view of the semantics of addiction makes some sense. I've never been completely comfortable with the "intervention" terminology, either. It does have a suggestion of the coercive and the confrontational about it. "Intercession" carries some heavy connotations having to do with Western Christianity, but I definitely take your point, and love the image of practitioners "wrestling" with their clients.Dirk Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-58019248831997661192016-02-17T20:08:17.375-06:002016-02-17T20:08:17.375-06:00Thank you for this review of "Neurobiologic A...Thank you for this review of "Neurobiologic Advances from the Brain Disease Model of Addiction." It is heartening to see how far the addictions field has come in the last 50 years. That said, discussing "intercessions" rather than "interventions" may move the field even further along in its quest for efficacy.<br /><br />Language is powerful; words affect results. "To intervene" is a "reactive” verb, more consistent with aggressive confrontation. "To intercede" is more consistent with brief motivational techniques and therefore a more "proactive verb." When practitioners "intervene," they attempt to do something to the individual thus facilitating what Miller refers to as "wrestling." When practitioners “intercede,” they insert themselves between the client and the SUD in order to facilitate increasing awareness on the part of the individual regarding the disorder. This facilitates movement through the stages of readiness to change, thereby resulting in more of a "dance" between the SUD individual and the practitioner.<br /><br />I realize this sounds like semantics, but there is logic supporting this suggestion:<br /><br />• To "intercede" is to act as a mediator whereas to "intervene" is to involve oneself in a situation to alter, hinder, if not stop an action’s continuance;<br />• The practitioner who intercedes mediates between the individual and the SUD itself...it is an experience indicative of enhancing self-awareness and discovery rather than a confrontation as a means of imposed awareness;<br />• The intent of Motivational Interviewing is to elicit from an individual personal insight that permits movement through the progressive stages of readiness to change until reaching the point of "taking action.” It is more about "drawing something unrealized out" from the individual rather than "forcing something external in";<br />• "Intervention" is what physicians do when employing the medical model; this may work wonders when detoxing or administering Naloxone, but "intercession" is what practitioners do when employing the behavioral health model that facilitates movement through the stages of readiness to change;<br />• Intervention is about doing something TO an individual and therefore is invasive, whereas intercession is about doing something WITH him or her in order to facilitate change.<br /><br />Interventions pit practitioner against individuals with SUDs in a "tug-of-war" where for one to win, the other must lose. This is what Wm Miller (of Motivational Interviewing) meant by referring to it as "wrestling" with a client. Intercessions pursue a more collegial—although at times nonetheless blunt—relationship, one built on mutual trust and respect; what Miller meant when suggesting "dancing” with a client. As any accomplished ballroom dance team will report, "someone leads while the other follows," but the team does not win the competition until and unless "its members" enter a state of symbiosis. In essence, as the practitioner guides more than directs or leads in this dance, the partners, together, constitute an intercession in action. <br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br />Robert J. Chapman, PhDRoberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09126598748579047994noreply@blogger.com