Examples of harm caused by AA and NA meeting attendance and 12-step based treatment: A young woman stopped her antidepressant after attending AA meetings for a few months. The reason? Her sponsor told her to stop taking her medication because she was not “clean”. Despite a few years in intensive psychotherapy, this young woman’s depression had never really improved. She eventually started taking an antidepressant for her illness, and within
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) -Treatment With A Dark Side-Part II
It has been my experience that the biological treatment of addiction (medication) is frequently at odds with 12-step based treatment (AA and NA). I have seen, heard, or read about patients who were told to not start medication, or to stop their medication. Why were they told to stop? “Because you are not clean, or you are not sober, if you take medication”. Who are these people telling someone addicted
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – Treatment With A Dark Side – Part I
I acknowledge that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), which are based on the 12-steps, do help some people to obtain abstinence. However, the longer that I am in practice, I have been convinced that attending AA and NA meetings cause some people to relapse, or even overdose and die. The same holds true for outpatient and inpatient treatment centers that are strictly based on the 12-steps. However, it
Alcohol Treatment Options
Over the years in private practice, I have begun to recognize certain patterns in the types of patients that tend to respond, or not respond, to the alcohol treatment options that are available. I have been seeing that patients who drink alcohol mainly for it’s anti-anxiety and after work/end of the day calming effect, tend to respond very well to drugs that exert their effect on the GABA receptors in
How to Not Complete A Benzo Detox
I have my own ‘formula’ for success when it comes to benzodiazepine detoxification. It is not the only way, but it is the way that has worked for me, and for the patients that I have treated, since starting private practice. Most of the patients that come to me for this treatment have anxiety disorders. They have become physically dependent on prescription benzodiazepines that are being taken as prescribed. They
Crack Cocaine, Alcohol, and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
This past Wednesday, Toronto mayor Rob Ford has decided to seek professional help for his substance abuse. The media has shown Mr. Ford intoxicated on alcohol, as well as smoking crack cocaine. His addiction appears to be severe. His resulting functional impairment and inability to stop using have publicly derailed his career. How are alcohol and stimulants such as cocaine related? Both of these drugs go hand in hand. Some
Dr. Kloda Discusses Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) Treatment on the Dr. Steve Show
There is a disturbing trend going on that you may have heard about. People wanting to feel more energized, more upbeat, and less stressed out from their busy lives. They start their morning with a cup of coffee and a prescription narcotic pain killer call oxycodone. Well, soon they find themselves addicted, and with a much more serious problem. Joining me now is doctor Stuart Kloda. He is an Addiction
Baclofen for Alcohol Addiction
Online PR News – 10-April-2014 –Baclofen is a medication that can be used for the treatment of addiction to alcohol. It is a medication that has actually been around for a long time. It is a muscle relaxant that is used to treat severe muscle spasticity. “Baclofen can be a miracle drug for some people who are addicted to alcohol.” Baclofen mainly works at the GABA-B receptor. This causes muscular relaxation. It also
Addiction Treatment Specialists Say Heroin Deaths Avoidable
The death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman from a heroin overdose has brought about a lot of discussion regarding medical treatment to prevent heroin deaths. I will not “diagnose” Mr. Hoffman in any specific manner, as it is unethical to do so for a person that one has never seen or examined in person. I cringe when I see physician television personalities “diagnose” celebrities whom they have never spoken with.
5 Things to Know About Addiction & Addiction Treatment
Stuart Kloda, M.D. maintains a solo Addiction Medicine practice in New York City specializing only in the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction. “Addictions can affect highly functioning people, threatening their careers, families and homes,” he says. Stuart Kloda, M.D., addiction specialist in NYC Online PR News – 03-January-2014 –FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ADDICTION 1. People do not have to “hit bottom” in order to be motivated to start treatment
