What we spend on health

~ Jason Schwartz

This infographic is from a report on obesity and it’s set off a debate its accuracy. But it gets at a point I’ve made before. And, the more I learn, the clearer it becomes that this general principle applies to medical problems, mental health problems and addiction.

To me, this doesn’t make a case for disengagement from the medical system. Rather it calls for finding some balance between care focused on delivering medications and devices and care that focuses on promoting and supporting health and wellness.

I think addiction recovery has a lot to offer, about maintaining healthy lifestyle changes in particular, but there’s still a lot to learn.

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Published by Jason Schwartz

I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I no longer work at Dawn Farm and am now the Director of Behavioral Medicine at a community hospital, and a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work. Views expressed here are my own. Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.