At first blush, the NIDA seems focused on the chemical rewards produced in the brain by specific drugs, notably cocaine. But, as I announced in Psychology Today 35 years ago, this model is illusory. Addiction is not the result of a drug molecule binding with specific receptors.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, has admitted that his wife not only illegally used drugs but walked away from criminal charges. The McCains worked to make Cindy McCain's addiction into a political asset [in 2000] — despite the fact that she stole the drugs from a charity she directed and used them while mothering four young children.

What the hell is the matter with those Europeans? Aren't they smart enough to realize that drinking at an early age leads to a lifelong risk of alcoholism? I have the same problem when I try to explain to Europeans that the war in Iraq is good.

Whenever a public figure does something grossly wrong (think Patrick Kennedy, Mark Foley, Mel Gibson), the standard reaction is for them to claim they were addicted and to be bundled off to a treatment center.

Barack Obama lied about his drug use as a high school student in Hawaii and in college in Los Angeles. Obama – in his memoir Dreams from My Father – insinuated that he was a heavy drug user, including cocaine as well as marijuana. But interviews with high school and college friends uncovered the truth – Obama was a casual marijuana smoker!

Those who die at an early age seem to have been motivated towards death.  As a result, whether they intentionally took their lives or not, their deaths represent a kind of suicide – or a lack of sufficient will to live.  They are troubled by external events, or are emotionally scarred or depressed, or suffer from a combination of these feelings.

In his 1996 autobiography, "Dreams from My Father," presidential candidate Barack Obama admitted using alcohol and drugs in high school. He was unusually frank compared to Bill Clinton and George W. Bush -- to name just two politicians reputed to have used drugs.

Charles Bufe begins Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult or Cure with a description of a standard AA meeting—dominated by a few people who tell their same, self-serving stories for the umpteenth time, the proceedings unfocussed and unhelpful, the environment filled with smoke and other unhealthy environmental contaminants...

The last (2006) “Monitoring the Future” study of high school students trumpeted, “Teen drug use continues downwards.” This is a reassuring message indeed; perhaps we are nearing our goal of eradicating youthful illicit drug use!  But then comes the rest of the title: “particularly among older teens; but use of prescription-type drugs remains high.” Heavens, what does this all mean?!

Perhaps you are familiar with how U.S. residents are coerced into 12-step groups (such as Alcoholics Anonymous) and into 12-step treatment. Even if you have not fully appreciated the irrationality and enormity of 12-step coercion, you probably have at least an intuitive sense that this coercion is wrong in several ways.