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I have found success by joining Weight Watchers!  I love Weight Watchers - you might consider checking into this. 

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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I am wondering why Emily started the program saying addiction is not in the DSM, when it is.  Hope they make a correction somehow.  It most certainly is a disorder defined in DSM. Thank you for your comment.

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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I have many perspectives on addiction. Growing up with an alcoholic father, marrying an alcoholic / addict, working in the field of addiction treatment and then prevention, I could write my own book, and may actually do this some day.  I have had my own struggles with food, both compulsive overeating and binge / purging / anorexia-like behaviors. Addiction is a complex and chronic health condition that touches many people across the globe.  We still haven't determined, as a society, how to best approach this disease.  People who become addicted to alcohol or drugs are very frustrating to their family members, the community and often end up getting involved in the legal system because they have crossed the line, commiting a crime related to the behaviors that so often accompany the lifestyle. 

We need to implement a drastic and systemic change in the way to treat addiction that includes expanding screening, brief interventions, case management, referral to specialized services, and provide sustained recovery management and support across the lifespan for individuals with this disease much like we do for diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.  We need to drastically expand capacity in treatment and serve family members who also struggle (at their wits end many times) with this disease.  We do this for family members of pathalogical gamblers here in Oregon and we should do this for family members dealing with addiction to alcohol or drugs too.  Al-Anon and other Co-Dependency mutual aid programs are great, but they are adjunct to professional services. 

Thank you, OPB, for airing this important dialogue.  I'm proud to say I'm a member!  

    

    

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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