Conversation about a New Paradigm

A conversation about a new paradigm?

In this document, I will also discuss some of the fundamental ideas of what I think the new paradigm will eventually need to be if we are to come to an adequate understanding of drug and alcohol addiction in our country and possibly throughout the world and most importantly of how to treat these disorders effectively. I believe that the concepts that must be confronted and changed involve our current beliefs about the addictive nature of drugs and alcohol, the disease concept that permeates society and the drug and alcohol industry, the accepted concept about the cause of addiction and dependency, the ideas and concepts of choice and responsibility concerning those individuals suffering from drug and alcohol addiction and finally, about the belief that there is no real solution to substance abuse disorders.?

The new paradigm will not rest on a physiological foundation but, instead, a psychological one that will be grounded in the psychology or mental health of the individual. The bottom line is that we need to understand the real cause of addiction. Until we do so, we will continue to treat ineffectively and incompetently those suffering. As expressed in some of the recovery literature, substance use disorders are of the mind and not of the body, and to heal from these disorders will require a transformation of thought and attitude. However, this critical postulate needs to be adequately understood and articulated by the recovery movement and not ignored practically. Nevertheless, to continue to treat those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction in the manner that we currently are today is inexcusable. We must change our conversation about substance abuse disorders to stop today's self-inflicted slaughter.

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The new paradigm will be based on three concepts.

The new paradigm I am proposing will revolve around three basic psychological concepts: responsibility, choice, and power. In the new paradigm, an individual will be perceived as entirely responsible for all his experiences, everything that he thinks, says, feels, and does, including and especially for creating his addiction to drugs and alcohol. It will also be suggested that this individual chooses all his experiences, including his drug and alcohol addiction and dependency. Given his responsibility for and what he desires for all his experiences, the individual who suffers from drug and alcohol addiction also has the power to transform, to change the trajectory of his life, to stop using drugs and alcohol, and never use again. I believe that our thinking, especially our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, about our value and worth as human beings, our self-image, is that which determines and structures our responsibility to ourselves and the world, choices that we make from moment to moment and the belief about our power to change our life. Addiction is not determined by any external factor, by other people, places, or things, but rather by the individual's human mind. As such, addictive behavior has an internal locus of control and not an external locus of control.

Dr. Harry Henshaw

Prelude to a Paradigm Shift for Addiction

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