For the better part of a century now, addiction has been treated largely as a matter of criminal justice, with some focus on medical treatment. Unfortunately this approach leaves a considerable amount out of the discussion. Addiction is a complex matter, with a lot of it coming down to socio-economic issues. As an Autistic addict,Continue reading “Autistic people and the social model of addiction”
Tag Archives: addict
Addiction, mental health, and my fear of relapse
I have spoken extensively about my struggles with addiction and psychosis. I have talked about what it was like to be in that headspace. I have talked about what it was like to enter recovery. What I haven’t spoken much about is my headspace 5 years on. Addiction and psychosis were terrifying experiences, but truthfullyContinue reading “Addiction, mental health, and my fear of relapse”
How can substance use services be more accessible to Autistic clients?
I have written before about the barriers to accessing substance use services when you are both autistic, and an addict; today I’m going to approach from a different angle. In this post, I will be talking about a few things that such services can do to increase accessibility, improving the quality of treatment that autisticContinue reading “How can substance use services be more accessible to Autistic clients?”
5 lessons I have learned in 5 years of sobriety
Today (7th April 2021) I have been sober from drug and alcohol addiction for five years. In that time I have faced many challenges and learnt many lessons. In this piece, I hope to share some of those lessons with you. 1. Not everything will be perfect once you get sober. Addiction is am absoluteContinue reading “5 lessons I have learned in 5 years of sobriety”
Filming addicts in crisis is a form of violence
I remember some years ago when the drug known as “spice” was sweeping through my country. Not only were the tabloids having a field day, and not only were people filming addicts on the street under the influence, I was using it. It was a relatively common sight in some cities. Individuals helplessly and mindlesslyContinue reading “Filming addicts in crisis is a form of violence”
Why is the moral model of addiction so prevalent?
As previously discussed, the moral model of addiction, in which addiction is seen as a moral failing, is inadequate for our understanding of addiction and formulating a means to approach it. Despite this, the moral model of addiction remains prolific throughout multiple cultures globally. Why is this? In my opinion, its prevalence can be broughtContinue reading “Why is the moral model of addiction so prevalent?”
Re-earning trust after active addiction
Those of us who have been through, or are currently in active addiction, know all too well that very few people trust us in the early days of recovery. To an extent it’s justified. We cheat, lie, and steal to meet the requirements of our addiction. But what happens when a person stops using? WhenContinue reading “Re-earning trust after active addiction”
An introduction to gaming addiction amongst Autistics
Another lesser discussed addiction for autistic people is gaming. Video games offer an escape from the real world, with minimal health consequences compared to other addictive escapes such as substance use. Gaming addiction can be an easy trap to fall into when you are looking for an escape from the world. In fact, when IContinue reading “An introduction to gaming addiction amongst Autistics”
Emergent Divergence 