Ep #25 Addiction & The Abstinence Myth, with Dr Adi Jaffe PhD

Welcome to the How To Die Happy podcast, where our hosts, Martin O'Toole and Julia Malcolmson, talk to various guests about living, dying, personal growth, and everything in between. In this episode, we're joined by ⁠Dr Adi Jaffe⁠, PhD, a recovered meth addict and drug dealer turned psychologist, Ted-Talker, author, ⁠podcaster⁠, and high-profile spokesperson in addiction treatment. Adi Jaffe runs ⁠IGNTD⁠, a customised, personalised virtual recovery program designed to help addicts find lifelong freedom from addiction.

While the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Steps program has been around since the mid-1930s, other exciting new and developing concepts aim to tackle the increasing and exponential problems associated with addiction and how we view and treat it. Dr Jaffe's controversial book, ⁠The Abstinence Myth⁠, proposes that the abstinence model for addiction treatment is outdated and inflexible. He asks why our medical, industrial complex and society at large refuse to help those who cannot promise to abstain from the very substance to which they are addicted. Moreover, is there an alternative way to treat addiction that does not focus on consumption and sobriety but instead tackles the deep roots of trauma?

In this extensive and enlightening conversation between two recovered addicts and a yogi, we dive into the definition of addiction, society's labelling, stigmatisation, and identification of addicts, the power we have to heal ourselves, the 12 Steps, and the program's limitations, and much more. Our host and show creator, Martin, is himself a recovered alcoholic and cocaine addict, and his journey to recovery was also a break from the norm. Having been introduced to the powerful and transformative psychedelic plant medicine, Ayahuasca, his healing path took him to far-off lands to learn ancient and Eastern modalities. And so, like Adi Jaffe, Martin is keen to shine a light on alternative approaches to addiction treatment that exclude the application of pharmaceuticals, instead focusing on ancient mindfulness practices and plant medicine.

While many academics have vilified Dr Jaffe, one thing we cannot ignore is the ongoing pandemic of addiction that is simply not going away. In a world where traditional rehabs have average relapse rates of up to 60%, no one can deny that alternative approaches to addiction treatment deserve to be heard.

But just how widespread is addiction? According to the World Health Organization, over 35 million people worldwide suffer from drug use disorders, and around 240 million people suffer from alcohol use disorders. However, it's important to note that these are just the reported cases, and there are likely many more undiagnosed or untreated cases of addiction. The availability of treatment centres and rehabs varies greatly depending on the country and region, with some areas having little to no resources available for addicts seeking help.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is perhaps the most well-known addiction treatment program in the world, having helped millions of people recover from alcoholism since its inception in 1935. The program's 12 Steps are designed to help individuals achieve and maintain sobriety, focusing on admitting powerlessness over alcohol and turning to a higher power for support. However, as Dr Jaffe discussed in the podcast, the program's effectiveness is a subject of ongoing debate, with some experts arguing that the abstinence-only approach is not suitable for everyone.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you may be searching for "rehab near me" or "addiction treatment centers." It's essential to research and find a program that works for you or your loved one's specific needs. Whether through AA or an alternative approach, the most important thing is to seek help and support.