Mackenzie Dyer
Mackenzie Dyer/Dr. Joseph Schumacher
Dr. Joseph Schumacher - Episode 7
Dr. Joseph Schumacher - Episode 7
Dr. Joseph Schumacher - Episode 7
Tuesday 5th June 2018
Dr. Joseph Schumacher explains why drug-addicted individuals continue to use, focusing on pleasure, pain, and different motivations.
8 minutes
Informative
Thought-provoking
Educational
Engaging
Authentic
About this podcast
Author:
Mackenzie Dyer
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Family Recovery from Addiction
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Creative Recovery Journeys
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Episodes:
30 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Understanding Addiction: Dr. Joseph Schumacher's Perspective
So we do things that make us feel good, and addictive drugs are drugs that make us feel good. You don't see people getting addicted to antibiotics, okay. So there are substances that increase pleasure, cause euphoria, and that's a very relevant theory to explain that.
Why do people struggling with drug addiction keep using? It's a question that puzzles many. In this episode of the Bradford Alumni Podcast, Dr. Joseph Schumacher, an expert in addiction medicine, dives deep into this complex issue. He starts by asking a straightforward but critical question: what drives someone to use substances? Surprisingly, one common answer is boredom. Many people turn to drugs seeking a mind-altering experience, and addictive substances make that all too easy.
This explains why some relapse after stopping their recovery meetings—similar to how a diabetic might relapse without managing their condition properly. Dr. Schumacher sheds light on the role of pleasure and pain in addiction. Some substances boost pleasure and create euphoria, which can explain why people continue using them. On the flip side, avoiding the agony of withdrawal is another powerful motivator. To ease this pain, individuals might take something that helps them cope, leading to continued use.
Motivation also plays a crucial role in addiction. Dr. Schumacher distinguishes between intrinsic motivation, which comes from within and aims for personal good, and extrinsic motivation, which involves external rewards. He discusses interventions like contingency management, where individuals are rewarded for negative toxicology tests to kickstart abstinence. While some people quit on their own, others lack access to treatment or resources, placing them at the severe end of the addiction spectrum. Dr.
Schumacher's insights offer a nuanced understanding of why drug-addicted individuals continue to use. His explanations and stories help demystify the complexities of addiction, making this episode a valuable resource for anyone touched by substance abuse.