Scott Alexander reviews an article on heroin addiction treatment, advocating for suboxone use while criticizing ineffective rehab programs and regulatory obstacles.
Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews a Huffington Post article on heroin addiction treatment, focusing on the effectiveness of suboxone (buprenorphine) compared to conventional rehab programs. He highlights the poor performance and sometimes abusive practices of many rehab centers, contrasting them with the proven success of suboxone treatment. The post then discusses two major obstacles to wider suboxone use: strict government regulations and resistance from the rehab industry. Alexander uses this discussion to reflect on broader themes such as the value of tight communities, the failures of both free market and government approaches in this area, and the superiority of biological solutions over social ones in addressing addiction.
Shorter summary