Dr. Joel Nathan
03-15-2009, 10:12 AM
There is a distinct separation from N.A. and medical management of addiction. To my knowledge as an Addiction Medicine doc, N.A. members are part of a spiritual fellowship in which they gather to support themselves in their personal recovery. Each member shares his own personal story of recovery. N.A. Members are not at the meetings to provide medical advice. Sometimes if medical advice is given by a non-professional this leads the N.A. member to stop medications that are actually helping them.
A doctor’s opinion differs from the N.A. opinion. It is important to note that few docs are actually trained in med school about substance abuse or its treatment. I've been in the addiction field for a while and have taught med students and other docs about substance abuse treatment. The information is getting out there, but it's a slow process.
Addiction is a disease and is chronic and relapsing, just like diabetes or cancer. Addiction is incurable, but is treatable. One can feel great and be healthy in every way in recovery. If you have an addiction concern, you can seek out physicians and therapists who have specialized or have a personal interest in this area. You will be treated with respect by these clinicians.
Doctors are trained to see a spectrum of an illness. I have an interest in both the abstinence model as well as in the harm reduction model (safer use). Both are valid goals.
Addiction is biological, psychological and spiritual in nature. In medicine, I deal with the biological and psychological to help with safe detox as well as with the physical craving and mental obsession for using drugs. I also help with relapse prevention. To my knowledge, N.A. focuses on a spiritual approach to help the physical craving and mental obsession for using drugs to decrease chances of relapse.
Together, a doc knowledgeable about addiction and its treatment and an N.A. member who is honest about his/her concerns and willing to participate in N.A. is an excellent partnership. I've seen that partnership produce amazing results. Making slow but steady progress toward a healthy fulfilling life is the way to keep your gains in recovery. Sometimes it's three steps forward and one step back, but in the long run the improvement is monumental.
As in all these threads, I welcome comments both in these threads. We all can teach each other.
Joel
A doctor’s opinion differs from the N.A. opinion. It is important to note that few docs are actually trained in med school about substance abuse or its treatment. I've been in the addiction field for a while and have taught med students and other docs about substance abuse treatment. The information is getting out there, but it's a slow process.
Addiction is a disease and is chronic and relapsing, just like diabetes or cancer. Addiction is incurable, but is treatable. One can feel great and be healthy in every way in recovery. If you have an addiction concern, you can seek out physicians and therapists who have specialized or have a personal interest in this area. You will be treated with respect by these clinicians.
Doctors are trained to see a spectrum of an illness. I have an interest in both the abstinence model as well as in the harm reduction model (safer use). Both are valid goals.
Addiction is biological, psychological and spiritual in nature. In medicine, I deal with the biological and psychological to help with safe detox as well as with the physical craving and mental obsession for using drugs. I also help with relapse prevention. To my knowledge, N.A. focuses on a spiritual approach to help the physical craving and mental obsession for using drugs to decrease chances of relapse.
Together, a doc knowledgeable about addiction and its treatment and an N.A. member who is honest about his/her concerns and willing to participate in N.A. is an excellent partnership. I've seen that partnership produce amazing results. Making slow but steady progress toward a healthy fulfilling life is the way to keep your gains in recovery. Sometimes it's three steps forward and one step back, but in the long run the improvement is monumental.
As in all these threads, I welcome comments both in these threads. We all can teach each other.
Joel