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You know, I try to write this blog from a completely objective point of you, but guess what – I’m a person, so things take on a personal tone once in a while.

There’s nothing I hate more than readers who come to this site, read a single post, and then decide they know who I am, or what I’m about. It’s taken me more than 13 years to get to this point in terms of my knowledge, experience, and viewpoint on drugs, addiction, and policy issues. It all started with 8 years of some personal “experimentation” with the behaviors I’m talking about. I’d love to say I was doing it for science, but the last three years were far from enjoyable for many around me. Since then I’ve studied statistics, neuroscience, public-health, and psychology. And I’m not done. Staying in the academic world, I keep educating myself on issues related to addiction from every field I have access to.

So please, if you have opinions, share them, but if you want to insult me, make sure you know what you’re talking about, because I’ll tell you if you don’t. Personal attacks are easy to make through an internet connection, but being stupid will leave an obvious stain and will cause me to either remove your comment or just reveal how ridiculous it is. I don’t like making personal attacks on people – not in posts, not in comments, and not in real life. Don’t tell me how you do, or don’t, want me to die because I probably don’t care how you go and I certainly don’t want the experience to be bad.

I know blogs are a little loose, but let’s keep this at least somewhat professional, okay?

Toxicology update

Well, it seems the toxicology reports are in and Brittany’s death was, at least partially, caused by her taking of multiple drugs. Still, it seems that she was trying to medicate a host of conditions brought on by her underlying anemia and pneumonia. It’s sad to think that this death could have likely been prevented had she simply… Continue reading | 11 Comments

The notion of releasing some 40,000 California prisoners to relieve overcrowding is milling around Sacramento and now, the Supreme Court. Okay, it’s more than a notion, it’s a law, but it’s being held up for the moment, so let’s see what happens.

The prisoners being discussed would be the lowest risk inmates, and as you know… Continue reading

contributing author: Gacia Tachejian

Have you ever asked yourself where it is that kids learn about drug use? Parents have long been known to protect their young ones from “bad” influences from outside, but a recent study at Yale shows that a major source influence still exists within the home.

Interestingly, the researchers, headed by Dr. William R. Corbin, found that family drinking patterns affected… Continue reading | 1 Comment

The U.S. policy regarding the drug problem is still centered mainly on the enforcement of its drug laws and intervention in the drug supply both within the U.S. and in neighboring countries. There is no question that this “crusade” has had an impact. Importing a kilogram of… Continue reading | 3 Comments

One of the core personality traits that many addicts, including myself, eventually identify in themselves in a strong streak of selfishness. The question is: What do I do with this insight once I’ve gained it?

I’m starting to come up with my own answer and hopefully my solution will help others find their own.

The beginning of my efforts

Since my arrest, incarceration, and rehabilitation for my… Continue reading | 4 Comments

Originally posted on Psychology Today:

One of the biggest problems with addiction is that we never know who is truly an addict. Yes, we have tests and notions, interviews and criteria, but all of those are simply tools we’ve used to get around the problem of not knowing. Well, a recent study by a couple of researchers… Continue reading | 3 Comments