Well, 2021 has certainly continued on from where 2020 left off, and the airwaves are still saturated with coverage of COVID-19. We are in the midst of a so-called 'third wave' of the disease, and case numbers and hospitalizations in Ireland have been extraordinarily high recently. It is now generally accepted that lockdown will be an ever-present feature of our lives for the forseeable future, notwithstanding the rollout of various vaccination programmes. As these new vaccines are largely untested, the risk to vulnerable populations is just too high until we have more data and can more accurately assess the efficacy of our vaccination strategy. We therefore need to buckle up and settle in for the long-haul as it has become crystal clear that this is most definitely a marathon and not a sprint.
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As part of Drug & Alcohol Awareness Week, the Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force recently hosted a seminar session on the topic of addiction, with talks given by the social scientist and policy expert Dr Shane Butler of Trinity College Dublin; Pauline McKeown, the CEO of Ireland's first residential treatment centre, Coolmine; and the psychologist Dr Stanton Peele. I enjoyed the session enormously, and it was interesting to get an Irish perspective on addiction (Dr Peele is based in the US but he had a good knowledge of Irish culture and the particular problems we face here).
Since starting my new job (well, not quite so new now... it's been nearly a year and a half, which I can scarcely believe) and finishing my time at an addiction charity in London, I had wanted to volunteer at a local homeless shelter here in Cambridge. I wasn't really in a position to start volunteering until the end of last year as my training at work took up pretty much all of my energy, but I finally got going last November.
I haven't posted since the 5th of May because I've been running around like a headless chicken recently, and I'm hoping to get two (two!) posts up today... let's see! It's a bank holiday, the sun is shining (for now), I'm on my second cup of hot water (I don't drink tea or coffee; I know, it's weird), and I'm ready to go...
The Pint of Science festival was on in Cambridge a couple of weeks ago and I went to two Brain events. So, let's explain this Pint of Science thing: what happens here is that academic scientists give talks about their research areas in the PUB - yes! This festival took place simultaneously in Oxford, Cambridge, and London between the 14th and 16th of May, and covered three research areas: Brain, Body, and Biotechnology. I've just come back from the Addaction/Wired In 2nd National Recovery Conference in Liverpool, and it's been an amazing few days. 'Recovery' from addiction is a concept that means different things to different people (for example, being able to completely abstain from a substance or adherence to a maintenance therapy programme; being in a position to seek employment and hold down a job; having good relationships with friends and family, and so on), which really hasn't received the attention it deserves from policy-makers, who are perhaps obliged to view addiction as a criminal issue rather than a healthcare one. This annual conference (this is its second year) brings together professional practitioners such as drug workers and GPs, and what are known as 'recovery champions', individuals who have overcome addictions to alcohol or drugs and now act as peer mentors to those who are just beginning the process. The idea is that each group can learn from the other, and this flow of information will help to inform policies on an organizational level, and possibly eventually lead to reform on a more political or legislative level. It is also a recognition and celebration of the achievements of individuals who have managed to address their addictions and are now living fuller and happier lives.
An essay on the incentive-sensitization theory of drug addiction, or the importance of cues...17/8/2012 I've already outlined this theory of drug addiction but I'd like to elaborate on it a little bit more, and give a greater insight into the body of research that it has stimulated. This is based on a Journal Club presentation I gave last year that I spent HOURS preparing for – it was fantastic though, because I learned so much about a topic that I was somewhat unfamiliar with and we had plenty of arguments afterwards, which is always good!
I have been reading about this issue lately, and I think it is such an interesting subject area that I just have to write about it and share it with you all! In the mainstream media the concept of vaccination against addiction has been blown out of all proportion, and it has been portrayed either as being the ultimate cure for addiction, or as an entirely sinister threat to humankind and freewill (individuals being forced to receive vaccines against their wishes; children being screened for vulnerability factors and then vaccinated if they fit the required profile; government interference; and so on). Less sensationally, the truth is not quite as dramatic as either of these two scenarios, but nevertheless, it is still fascinating!
Yes, I've decided to wade into the murky waters of drug policy, classification, legalization/decriminalization, and all that goes with them. First of all, I have to acknowledge the inherent difficulties in drafting a drug policy that will please everyone (frankly, this will never happen), and I understand that political and other interests play a defining role - it would be naive in the extreme to imagine that such legislation occurs within a political vacuum. Thus, policy has to balance what is best for the majority of 'ordinary' citizens who do not take illegal drugs or are addicted to them, but many of whom do consume legal drugs such as alcohol and cigarettes, with industry and revenue concerns. For example, drinks companies, tobacco firms, publicans, and retailers are all hugely affected by government legislation; equally, government revenue comes from the VAT on sales of cigarettes and alcohol. This is, of course, also balanced with the cost to the State of treating individuals suffering from ailments linked with the consumption of (il)legal substances, including addiction.
I have recently started an internship with a drug addiction charity, and the experience has really made me think about addiction and how the problem should be addressed. I worked for many years as a preclinical researcher in this field, investigating the neurobiology of addiction and the mechanisms underlying the transition between 'liking' a drug and 'needing' a drug. We also looked at ways of preventing or reversing addiction-like behaviour through pharmacological and other neural manipulations. However, there is a world of difference between academic research and the reality, and I am just beginning to understand the practicalities of treating a disorder that has such a grounding in issues that cannot be adequately modelled in the laboratory.
I attended a talk that was taking place yesterday as part of the Cambridge Science Festival, that really gave me something to think about. It was delivered by a former colleague of mine who works in memory research, mainly within the context of drug addiction. Without getting too sciency, there are several different types of memory, including emotional memories, which are largely subconscious. These are relevant to drug addiction, as they can elicit powerful cravings in an addict without the individual being aware of where these cravings come from or how to stop them. This is because addicts attribute emotional value to 'cues' or stimuli that are associated with drug-taking. The most obvious are white powder for cocaine addicts, or a teaspoon for heroin addicts, and so on.
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Really, it contains a little bit of everything, from a celebration of science and the English language to the joys of travel and the Shipping Forecast. The title ('Meanderings') is a fairly accurate description of its content: I write about different things as the mood takes me, but hopefully there's something in here for everyone... Categories
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And on another note... |
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