Stanton v American Psychatric Association

Readers Question Readers Question: (Name changed for privacy)
Stanton Peele Response by: Dr. Stanton Peele
Posted on January 16th, 2025
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Q. Stanton, the American Psychiatric Association has released

The Top Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Addiction.

What is your response?


The APA’s list actually cements into place the mistaken and dysfunctional way we think about and deal with drugs and addiction, with its obviously disastrous results.

Instead, beneath each of APA’s ten “commandments,” I present my alternative model for dealing with drugs and addiction for the 21st Century.

Top Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Addiction

  1. Addiction is treatable with medications, therapy, and other supports, including groups, individual, and family/friend integrated approaches.

    Me: Addiction is a relationship people form with an involvement as a way of coping with their lives — it is a life outcome. The involvement does not need to be with drugs.
  2. No one chooses to develop an addiction; addiction is not caused by a moral defect.

    Me: People express their life outlooks in the development and recovery from addiction. Addiction is not a drug effect.
  3. Addiction can affect anyone; some groups of people are more impacted by addiction because of societal marginalization and discrimination.

    Me: Marginalization and deprivation of the self are the fundamental causes of addiction.
  4. Opioid overdose can be reversed by medications such as naloxone and nalmefene.

    Me: Drug effects can be reversed by medications. Addiction can’t be.
  5. We can help prevent and treat addiction by recognizing the signs of addiction and encouraging treatment.

    Me: Escaping addiction is a life development process, not a treatment outcome.
  6. Return to use is a common part of the recovery process. It’s an opportunity to learn and does not mean treatment failed.

    Me: Mistaking “use” with “addiction” is a prompt to continued addiction.
  7. Just because a substance is legal, doesn’t make it safe. Talk to your doctor about all substances you use.

    Me: In other words, whether with commonplace drugs (alcohol and caffeine), prescription drugs, or recreational drugs, virtually every American uses drugs — it’s a normal part of life.
  8. People with addiction often experience anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. Talk to your doctor about treatment.

    Me: Gosh, if we’re counting on America to reduce emotional distress as our solution for addiction, we’re doomed.
  9. Talking openly with kids about the risks of substance use can help prevent addiction.

    Me: Helping kids to value themselves, others, and life experiences is the antidote to addiction.
  10. Many people with addiction can be effectively treated in community clinics; others may need residential or hospital care.

    Me: The minimization and elimination of community care and support due to the medicalization of addiction is THE major cause of America’s plummeting mental health and drug addiction and death epidemic.
Stanton Peele

Dr. Stanton Peele, recognized as one of the world's leading addiction experts, developed the Life Process Program after decades of research, writing, and treatment about and for people with addictions. Dr. Peele is the author of 14 books. His work has been published in leading professional journals and popular publications around the globe.

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