Nathan McLean & Corey Williams
Nathan McLean & Corey Williams
Diagnosing Your Mental Health - Are YOU Addicted?
Diagnosing Your Mental Health - Are YOU Addicted?
Diagnosing Your Mental Health - Are YOU Addicted?
Monday 20th March 2023
Nathan McLean and Corey Williams critique the DSM-5 criteria for Substance Use Disorder, exploring its flaws and impacts on patients.
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83 minutes
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Thought-provoking
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Empowering
About this podcast
Author:
Nathan McLean & Corey Williams
Overview:
Categories:
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Recovery Reimagined
Body & Mind
Family Recovery from Addiction
Financial Health in Recovery
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Episodes:
102 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Reevaluating Addiction: A Fresh Look at Diagnosing Substance Use Disorders
And with this criteria, the DSM-5's criteria for diagnosing substance use disorder, it's almost impossible not to qualify- I don't know what kind of a ned. So that's a problem that is built into the structure of it.
Picture this: You’re sitting with friends, enjoying a couple of drinks, and suddenly wonder, 'Could this be considered addiction?' In this episode of the Recovery Machine Podcast, hosts Nathan McLean and Corey Williams take a deep dive into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for Substance Use Disorder (SUD). They question whether these guidelines might be too broad, potentially labeling casual users as addicts.
Nathan and Corey explore how the current criteria don’t always distinguish between recreational use and genuine addiction. For instance, if someone occasionally indulges in an extra glass of wine with friends, should that be flagged as a problem? This lack of nuance, they argue, can lead to unnecessary diagnoses and added stigma. The hosts also highlight the importance of insight in the diagnosis process. Many individuals struggling with substance use feel immense shame and guilt, which can hinder their recovery.
By considering a person's awareness and understanding of their substance use, diagnoses could become more compassionate and accurate. Autonomy in substance use is another hot topic in this episode. Nathan and Corey debate whether advocating for personal choice in drug use is the right approach, especially given the rising drug poisoning deaths. They suggest that understanding the context of substance use is vital for making informed decisions about treatment and policy. Stigma remains a significant barrier to effective treatment.
The current diagnostic criteria can worsen this issue, particularly for chronic pain patients who might be unfairly labeled. Nathan and Corey propose a more supportive approach to diagnosis and treatment to help reduce stigma and improve patient outcomes. Finally, the hosts delve into the concept of cost-benefit analysis in recovery. This method, used in programs like SMART Recovery, encourages individuals to weigh the short-term and long-term costs and benefits of their substance use.
Honest self-reflection is key here, helping people make better choices for their recovery journey. This episode offers a thoughtful critique of how we diagnose substance use disorders, advocating for more nuanced and empathetic approaches. Tune in to gain fresh perspectives on a complex issue that affects many lives.