Stories by Maia Szalavitz

New strategies help to reduce callous and unemotional traits in children, guiding them toward productive lives

A new generation of treatments addresses the trauma that often underlies addiction

A recent examination of Vivitrol’s clinical trial data uncovered many hidden overdoses. Its preferential use in the criminal justice system must stop

By ruling in favor of two doctors accused of running pill mills, SCOTUS is clarifying opioid prescription practices

The Supreme Court will consider a case that has had a chilling effect on medical practice

We mustn’t apply the same harm reduction strategies to both

The herbal supplement can be abused, but given the explosion in opioid deaths, eliminating this safer substitute will almost certainly lead to more deaths

In both cases, harm reduction is a better strategy than draconian rules that feel virtuous but don’t actually work

Pharmaceutical companies and drug dealers have been part of the problem—but so have policy makers

Where financial disparities are greatest, the murder rate tends to be high

New studies strengthen ties between loss, pain and drug use

Rethinking the “pleasure molecule” could help scientists better understand addiction, Parkinson’s disease and motivation 

The opioid-blocking drug naloxone is a crucial first step, but there must be immediate follow-up to keep the cycle of addiction from continuing

Cracking down on highly effective pain medications will make patients suffer for no good reason

Author Maia Szalavitz rebrands addiction as a learning disorder, exploring new approaches to tolerance, prevention and treatment 

New research suggests the disorder often looks different in females, many of whom are being misdiagnosed and missing out on the support they need

Dangers lurk within the U.S.'s $12-billion self-help industry. Here is how to spot the warning signs

A child's hyperactivity may be a symptom of distress