Posted by Lisa Jacobson on January 06, 19101 at 11:04:26:
Dear Dr. Dodes,
A few weeks ago you were a guest speaker at Harvard Extension for Prof. Schwartz's class Intro to Psychoanalysis,of which I am a student. I am writing my final papers for his class, the last of which is on addiction and psychoanalysis.
We ran out of time, so I wasn't able to ask you some specific questions regarding the treatment through psychoanalysis of patients with addiction problems. Basically I wanted to know if those with addiction problems can and are actively using while they are in treatment with you. Do you prescribe or have prescribed any drugs for patients with addiction problems? Do you deal with the addiction as part and parcel of the patients curriculm vitae, or is there a separation between the addiction problems and others which the two of you work on? What's the success rate in terms of "curing" the addiction. And what is considered a "cure?" Is it that they stop using? Is it that the underlying emotional material becomes conscious enough and then they are able to stop using? Do you consider any/all drug, alcohol, nicotine, food etc etc issues to be examples of underlying problems, Are there any healthy adddicts?I mean people who are psychically intact who smoke, drink, etc?
I know this is a lot of questions. I don't expect that you will have the time to answer them all or to provide in-depth answers, but any bones you can throw me would be eagerly appreciated.
I enjoyed the lecture, wish there had been more, but I am finding information through thr web, also you mentioned in your paper of "Addiction, Helplessness, and Rage," that in that paper you would be unable to deal with the issue of treatment. Have you written another paper on the treatment issue? If so, is it available. I can't wait for the book, so...Thanks, Lisa Jacobson