“What is it that the correctional service actually corrects? In my view very little…and…the justice system is completely criminal and it should be studied…” So begins a provocative presentation by trauma and addiction treatment expert, Gabor Maté, MD While working for two decades on Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, Gabor saw how the purely medical model of addiction theory fails to take into account the effects of trauma and the biopsychosocial conditions of human beings as they live in relationship with others. He argues that current Canadian social and criminal policy exacerbate and entrench addiction, criminal behaviour and human suffering. He calls for social policy, medical training and criminal justice to become more fully aligned with the current science and understanding of addiction and healing. Ting Forum on Justice Policy co-sponsored by The School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University, the Correctional Service of Canada, and the Department of Criminology at Douglas College Buy the DVD or digital download at www.heartspeakproductions.ca Part Two (coming soon) Dr. Gabor Maté is joined by Ray Corrado (Simon Fraser University, School of Criminology), Tim Veresh (The John Howard Society of the Lower Mainland, BC), and Sav Bains (The Correctional Service of Canada [CSC]), to continue the dialogue on addictions and corrections. Underlying the discussion of the treatment of addictions in the prison environment is an awareness that new and impending crime …
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qita0 says:
February 6, 2012 at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
@telemetry9 I think Dr Mate was merely speaking for himself and his situation. I personally think that it’s important to treat people suffering from mental illness in a way that yields the best results for them personally, but I’m also somewhat troubled about the possibility that the ONLY treatment for mental illness was medication. Mental illness patients need theraphy, and “medicating them to silence them” i.e not providing enough resources for theraphy is the wrong way.
telemetry9 says:
February 6, 2012 at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
The only thing I didn’t like was Gabor indicating that he didn’t take medication because there”are other ways of dealing with life”
It hurts because I take psychiatric medication and without that I wouldn’t be able to function. I have a certain quailty of life. So it hurts that Gabor might think he is a higher functioning person than all of us who rely on medication to stay well. I don’t believe that is the case. It’s the responsible thing for me to take my medication. I’m still here.
telemetry9 says:
February 6, 2012 at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
“never compare yourself to others – someone will always be better or worse than you are but never the same as.”
Being medicated with psychiatric drugs is better than being dead; better than taking alcohol and opiates. There’s evidence that early intervention with correct medication can halt or delay more serious mental illness forming.
I’m afraid exercise and a positive mental attitude doesn’t work for everyone – some of us will need medication for life. That ISN’T a sign of weakness.
mackerjr1981 says:
February 6, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
I used heroin from the age of 17, and FINALLY i stop when i got (A.B.I) Acquired Brain Injury at the age of 25 it takes something like that to break the circle of addiction for me.
If governments would spend a little bit more on addiction we would have all this pain for family friends
BroMichaelGomez says:
February 6, 2012 at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
I am addicted to Gabor Mate’…. I cant break away from his books and his lectures are outstanding. Thank God for this man!
angelaross1000 says:
February 6, 2012 at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Amazing insight, yes where to go from here,, truly an incredible man.
222schofield says:
February 6, 2012 at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
they make money off of our dispositions…thay know we will fail and and theyre social workers who spent years in school learning and borrowning money will burn outb caring for people without the proper tools..theyre banking on people like me to keep relapsing on drugs and going to jail to learn my lesson be nearly being killed by dangerous offenders who demand i fight a stranger or be beaten to a pulp…thats how we learn to live? to reenter society after short term custody?
herpiethelovebug says:
February 6, 2012 at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
@ProBonoz “How do we reverse this damage done by ourselves to our own people? “
The Venus Project.
AirFiveR says:
February 6, 2012 at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
Isnt is true that the opium wars were for control of drugs so the powers that be can control and snythesize them for profit? Isnt it also true that these drugs in their coca leaf, poppy form are NON addictive. Isnt big pharma and their supporters/govt. representatives to be held accountable for not allowing drugs in their natural state. Even willowbark (aspirin in natural state) has been hijacked. I believe your argument is absolutly valid but weve been conned.
hiddenfromhistory says:
February 6, 2012 at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
This man is amazing. I wonder if he has ever head of John Trudell? I would love to hear them have a conversation.
ProBonoz says:
February 6, 2012 at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
I think that the main point of Gabor Maté is human-kinds great lack of understanding and empathy. How can we have a good foundation without it? The general public are conditioned in a way that creates separation and close mindedness instead of looking at our fellow man and woman as our family,our mothers,fathers,sisters,brothers,sons and daughters. How do we reverse this damage done by ourselves to our own people?
KatnipUK1970 says:
February 6, 2012 at 4:51 pm (UTC -4)
Once again Dr Mate stands up and tells the truth, he is a modern day saint
Nomels says:
February 6, 2012 at 5:09 pm (UTC -4)
Can you Open a beer on the beach and say cheers to the Police? NO..But. In Many other countries you can.
Can you dance in public places with out being arrested? NO. Copy and paste this in youtube:
RT’s Adam vs the man host Adam Kokesh arrested
Do you have freedom of speech ? NO .
Can you talk on the Phone without being recorded? No.
Can you fly without taking your shoes off? No .
Can you grow your own food In the back yard? No you can not.Check resolution S510.
keep dreaming.
Appleriver3 says:
February 6, 2012 at 5:10 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you for posting!
tomydb says:
February 6, 2012 at 5:10 pm (UTC -4)
Subtitulos en español por favor
casemon says:
February 6, 2012 at 5:27 pm (UTC -4)
Gabor Maté is on DemocracyNow . org’s daily newscast today (see date of this post).
He was on a few weeks ago too; always interesting & insightful.
efortune357 says:
February 6, 2012 at 5:50 pm (UTC -4)
I love Dr Gabor Mate. I first discovered him in the documenatry Zeitgeist Moving Forward. A very insightful, must see doc. free on youtube
Naleon90 says:
February 6, 2012 at 6:43 pm (UTC -4)
very, very informative, it can really explain something like willpower, curiosity, it was actually my missing link to understanding human behavior. thank you so much by this upload!!!!!!!
mikejamesbaldwin says:
February 6, 2012 at 7:16 pm (UTC -4)
Excellent lecture! So sad our society is ignorant to these facts, and is so punishment orientated. This guy is so on the mark!! I used heroin from the age of 17, and FINALLY at the age of 50, I was able to be in an environment that afforded me self esteem, and have been heroin free for 5 years now, with no desire to return to that hell. I’m not sure the justice system will ever change, there’s far too much money to be made by keeping addicts criminals, but I won’t stop hoping!!
kentmi23 says:
February 6, 2012 at 7:43 pm (UTC -4)
Being someone who has going through various childhood traumas and currently struggles with addiction, it is wonderful to hear the “real” science about the nature of addiction. Also, I have been able to recognize that I myself probably hold some of negative assumptions about addiction. This video has greatly helped me conceptualize my own and others addictions and I hope that all citizens and politicians inform themselves on this topic so Canadian social policy vastly improved.
kentmi23 says:
February 6, 2012 at 8:23 pm (UTC -4)
@heartspeak, Thank you very much for posting this.
mildgreens says:
February 6, 2012 at 9:00 pm (UTC -4)
Another compelling insight into the social ecology of addiction, justice and how we got into this mess.
soshiaunce says:
February 6, 2012 at 9:48 pm (UTC -4)
I love Dr Mate <3
damosapian says:
February 6, 2012 at 10:00 pm (UTC -4)
good vid, straight down the line
lovingenergyyoga says:
February 6, 2012 at 10:30 pm (UTC -4)
Standing ovation!!!!!!!