Addiction Conference

Exploring the causes, nature and treatment of addictions today

9:00 – 17:00

‘I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world leads the unrecognised spiritual need into perdition if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community.’ C.G. Jung

The Pleasure Paradox: The Allure of Mind-altering Substances and Addictive Personalities

The pleasurable effects of a mind-altering drug run a close parallel with dangerous and harmful consequences. The conflict between pleasure and danger might be thought of as a ‘pleasure paradox’. Although the focus in the presentation is on substance misuse, the idea of the ‘pleasure paradox’ might be meaningfully applied to other compulsive acts of self-harm, such as cutting, vomiting, over-eating, gambling and other addictions where the pleasurable act brings about potentially deleterious consequences.

Dr. Gary Winship has worked in the addictions field since 1981, including the in-patient ward for alcoholics at the Maudsley. He later developed an innovative, democratic, therapeutic community programme in drug addiction.

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