Posted by Elizabeth on July 19, 2001, at 11:03:54
In reply to Re: Effexor stuff, posted by jojo on July 18, 2001, at 22:57:12
> Elizabeth- You sound like you work in conflict resolution.
Oh, not at all. < g >
> OK, let's consider these people drug addicts.
I think there's a relevant distinction. The existence of a withdrawal syndrome used to define "addiction," but now the word has a more behavioural meaning (some authorities, notably Goodman & Gilman, recommend dropping it from the medical vocabulary altogether).
> I don't think that I know what an "addict" is anyway.
I think I do. And I don't like seeing the word tossed around as an insult.
> If we DO consider these people "drug addicts", maybe our government will be forced to consider
> their War on Drugs in a more rational way, especially if someone close to them suffers from one
> of these "addictions".That's possible, but I don't think it would be intellectually honest or medically pragmatic to drop the distinction between drug addiction and pharmacologic dependence -- even though it might be politically beneficial. There are so many good reasons for dropping the war on [some] drugs, we really don't need to invent reasons. :-)
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:17065
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010714/msgs/70847.html