Edward Khantzian, “Treating Addiction: Beyond the Pain” (Rowman and Littlefield, 2018)Edward Khantzian, “Treating Addiction: Beyond the Pain” (Rowman and Littlefield, 2018)
New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery
Treatment of addiction often focuses on abstinence or ‘harm reduction.’ While many people benefit greatly from such approaches, the underlying pain and heartache often go untreated, leaving individuals vulnerable to relapse.
48:36•23 Jul 2018
Healing the Heartache: Dr. Edward Khantzian's Approach to Addiction Treatment
“Suffering human psychological pain and distress and unhappiness is at the root of addictive disorders, and if we don't get at those roots, we miss a lot that continues to drive addictive behavior.”
What if the key to treating addiction lies not just in abstinence, but in understanding the emotional pain beneath it? Dr. Edward Khantzian, a seasoned psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, dives into this very idea in his book, 'Treating Addiction: Beyond the Pain'. In this episode of 'New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery', host Marshall Poe sits down with Dr. Khantzian to unpack his groundbreaking 'self-medication hypothesis'.
This theory suggests that people turn to substances to cope with deep-seated emotional issues, rather than just seeking pleasure or escaping reality. Dr. Khantzian, with over fifty years of experience, shares how his combined humanistic and psychoanalytic approach can provide a more holistic treatment for addiction. The conversation touches on the compatibility of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic methods in treating addiction, and how different substances can address various emotional states.
He also sheds light on the critical role of attachment issues and the benefits of medication-assisted treatments. This episode is a must-listen for anyone affected by addiction, whether you're struggling yourself, supporting a loved one, or working in the field. Dr. Khantzian's insights offer a fresh perspective on addressing the root causes of addiction, making this discussion both enlightening and practical.
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