Pubdate: Thu, 04 Feb 2016
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2016 The New York Times Company
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Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Robert G. Newman

IS SHAME AN ANTIDOTE TO ADDICTION?

To the Editor:

Re "Can Shame Be Useful?," by Sally L. Satel and Scott O. Lilienfeld 
(Sunday Review, Jan. 24):

Drs. Satel and Lilienfeld disparage what they describe as "a 
well-intentioned campaign to eradicate feelings of shame in addicted 
people." They credit "a spasm of self-reproach" with enabling "many" 
addicts to quit, ignoring the fact that addiction has for decades 
been recognized as a chronic, notoriously recidivist, treatable but 
as yet incurable medical condition, and not, in the writers' words, a 
"destructive habit."

A significant proportion of addicts want, need and can benefit 
greatly from treatment. Instilling or reinforcing a sense of shame is 
far more likely to hinder rather than advance the achievement of a 
positive outcome.

In managing disease, shaming the victim is no more rational or 
productive than blaming the victim.

ROBERT G. NEWMAN

New York

The writer, an adjunct professor of preventive medicine at the Icahn 
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, was assistant commissioner for 
addiction programs at the New York City Department of Health, 1970-75.
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