Best of the Week: January 24–30

COMING UP IN THE FIX// Drug Legalization * To AA or Not to AA: Debate between Lance Dodes and Joseph Nowinski * How to recover from recovery * Q & A with Richard "Doc" Wilmott * Death of Dallas Taylor * Getting High on Our Own Supply * Changes * PLUS: Other incisive articles

	PRO STEPS// Why AA is OK Yes, there is science behind the 12-step model. Dr. Joe Nowinski, author of "If You Work It, It Works: The Science Behind 12 Step Recovery" lays it out. By Joe Nowinski
	TREATMENT ADVICE// Opioid Addiction Treatment Should Not Last a Lifetime "Once an Opioid Addict, Always an Opioid Addict" should not be a guiding principle of the treatment system. By Percy Menzies
	MIND GAMES// What If You Could Hack Your Brain? Professional biohacker Dave Asprey says you can with his Bulletproof lifestyle plan. By Cathy Cassata
	MUSIC// Cholo Goth? The Fix Q&A with Rafael Reyes Cholo-goth duo Prayers' songs are about the harsh realities of gang life set over a catchy 80s-type sound of synthesizers and electronic beats. By Amy Dresner
	MONEY BURNED// The 10 Wildest Gambling Losses Of All Time These high rollers weren’t exactly heading to the nickel slots. From blowing through millions in minutes to committing crimes to keep up their gambling addiction, here are the 10 biggest casino “whales” in history. By McCarton Ackerman

 

BEST OF THE QUICK FIX Clinton Foundation Announces Initiative To Make Naloxone Devices More Affordable This Is Your Brain on Facebook Toronto Police Launch Humorous 'Cookin' With Molly' Campaign

China’s Anti-Drug Efforts Face Huge Drug-Using Population Pediatricians' Group Publishes Support for Medical Marijuana Research Israeli Pro-Pot Party Promises Free Weed to Contributors

COMMENT OF THE WEEK

Watch Your Steps This week, Joe Nowinski made the case for why AA is OK. As always, readers gave a piece of their mind regarding AA's 12 step methodology:

A cognitive behavioral therapist would not have someone list defects and shortcoming, insist on turning over their wrongs to a higher power, and then insist they become dependent on a group. William R. Miller ranked AA 37 and TSF 38 behind 36 other treatment modules. Identifying one's self with the label "alcoholic" limits a person to actual recovery, which would be better if one said "I used to be an alcoholic"... Instead, we have people in AA identifying as alcoholics with 30 years not drinking. That is like having a cancer patient with 30 years remission continue support groups while still identifying as a cancer sufferer. Many in AA groups, especially in a treatment center, will give raving reviews in order to "cooperate." Project Match lacked a control group. The only reason AA is first and highly recommended is due to how large (how many meetings it has) it is and not because it works. It is not strange that many have committed suicide as a result of those steps... what is strange is that anyone would call listing wrongs, defects and shortcomings and insisting one cannot think for themselves is "healthy." -Juliet.roxspin MORE »