Scientific American Mind
Letter on Articles appeared on the April 2010 Issue
Two notes about addiction (Why We Return to Bad Habits and Myth #5: One Drink, One Drunk in Busting Big Myths) seem to run in opposing directions and might send confusing signals to recovering addicts. The first one recommends ignoring “that little voice telling you it is okay to start exposing to temptation.” The second one states that “controlled drinking may be worth considering for those patients for whom abstinence-oriented programs have failed to work”. I suggest that each individual’s predisposition to addictive behaviors plays a role here. For example, some people can do cocaine without becoming dependent (low predisposition) while others get caught in the first try (high predisposition). The strongly inclined should always cling to his/her faith on Myth #5; the less propense might comfortably pay attention to the “little voice.”
March 20, 2010