Michael Jackson’s Life Could Have Been Saved with Harm Reduction

In the weeks prior to his death, Michael Jackson’s family tried to do an intervention and get him into rehab. But Michael’s resistance might have been circumvented, if he had been offered a “Harm Reduction Approach” according to Dr. Marc F. Kern, a Beverly Hills addictions specialist.

When many people think of the term “intervention” they think of the type of intervention done on the A&E show “Intervention”. This type of intervention requires that the person stop using all drugs immediately and enter rehab. What if Michael Jackson had been approached with the idea that he could continue to use his medications privately, at a lower level and safely?

The following press release snippet has information about a radical new approach to addiction.

Michael Jackson’s Life Could Have Been Saved, According to Beverly Hills Psychologist

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 12, 2009 — Beverly Hills clinical psychologist and addiction expert Marc F. Kern, Ph.D. states, “A powerful, successful and extremely private man like Jackson would appear to most people that he was in denial, but rather might have been exercising his right as an adult to just say ‘NO’ to Total Abstinence.”

“Harm Reduction” is a new science-based paradigm in the field of addiction treatment, and is the approach of choice in many countries such as Canada, England and the Netherlands. Harm Reduction therapists consider substance abuse as a very complex behavior, not only a medical disease, and assist people to find safer ways of using drugs. Total abstinence is not the main emphasis but rather a secondary goal among several alternatives including moderation.

“This is not just a situation unique to celebrities like Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith, Kurt Cobain, or other high profile people. Most average individuals who use drugs or alcohol won’t accept ‘Abstinence as the Only Solution’ for themselves so there is a great deal of shame and secrecy around their habit. In our contemporary society, it is time to offer harm reduction to help the millions of affected adults and teenagers who would benefit from the harm reduction approach.” More…