They used to throw alcoholics in a van and drag them to a “drunk tank” where they would “dry out” — that is, detox. They used to scream at them and even push them around. Many of these “drunks” were mentally ill, many were schizophrenic and most were homeless.
We’ve really come a long way in our treatment of alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness. Today we know that the most effective treatment is the kind that recognizes that mental illness and addiction are diseases. This is not only effective, but humane.
Your Therapy Soup blogger and Steven Diamond discuss everything from sleeping in “squats” to parenting to patient advocacy in this podcast on mental illness and addiction.
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