“Weasel Phrases,” “Framing” and “Data-Dredging” is Not Science: Making the Data Fit the Hypothesis in the Rehab Racket

June 27, 2016mllangan1 17 Comments

In propaganda this is what is known as a “weasel phrase.” Weasel phrases are used to obfuscate the truth. Weasel phrases mislead those either without the time, or without the sense to see or look any deeper. The problem is it works!

Disrupted Physician

Principles of Addiction Medicine devotes a chapter to Physician Health Programs. Written by Paul Earley, M.D., FASAM,¹ Earley states that the lifetime prevalence of substance abuse or addiction in physicians found by Hughes² is “somewhat less than the percentage in the general population reported by Kessler” of 14.6%.³

Although he specifies the numerical percentage “in physicians at 7.9%,”³ he avoids the use of numbers (14.6%) in the general population. He instead uses the qualifier “somewhat less.” Why is this?

My guess is because it understates the statistical fact that the prevalence found by Kessler in the general population was almost twice that found by Hughes in physicians.

You see, “Somewhat less” is a “detensifier.” It creates an impression of a small disparity between doctors and the general population.

In propaganda this is what is known as a “weasel phrase.” Weasel phrases are used to obfuscate the…

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17 thoughts on ““Weasel Phrases,” “Framing” and “Data-Dredging” is Not Science: Making the Data Fit the Hypothesis in the Rehab Racket”

ASAM Editor-in-Chief recommends organizations managing Physician Health Programs (PHPs) assume national role: Proposes groups pursue public policy change for all addiction treatment. – Disrupted Physician says:

September 29, 2016 at 3:16 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley. It also includes Greg Skipper who shamelessly introduced non-FDA approved drug testing of […]

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ASAM Weekly Editorial recommends Physician Health Program (PHP) organizational groups provide addiction treatment advocacy on a national level to guide public policy: A red flag if ever there was one. – Disrupted Physician says:

September 30, 2016 at 4:12 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley. It also includes Greg Skipper who shamelessly introduced non-FDA approved drug testing of […]

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ASAM Weekly Editorial recommends Physician Health Program (PHP) organizational groups provide addiction treatment advocacy on a national level to guide public policy: A RED FLAG if ever there was one. – Disrupted Physician says:

October 1, 2016 at 6:00 AM

[…] this list can be seen here. It includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, Paul Earley and Greg Skipper who first introduced non-FDA approved testing through a loophole. Since […]

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ASAM Weekly Editorial recommends Physician Health Program (PHP) organizational groups provide addiction treatment advocacy on a national level to guide public policy: A RED FLAG if ever there was one. – Disrupted Physician says:

October 1, 2016 at 6:28 AM

[…] this list can be seen here. It includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, Paul Earley and Greg Skipper who has introduced or promoted many of the non-FDA approved laboratory […]

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ASAM Weekly Editorial recommends Physician Health Program (PHP) organizational groups provide addiction treatment advocacy on a national level to guide public policy: A RED FLAG if ever there was one. – Disrupted Physician says:

October 1, 2016 at 6:57 AM

[…] Dupont, Paul Earley and Greg Skipper. These individuals represent the best interests of the drug and alcohol […]

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ASAM Weekly Editorial recommends Physician Health Program (PHP) organizational groups provide addiction treatment advocacy on a national level to guide public policy: A RED FLAG if ever there was one. – Disrupted Physician says:

October 1, 2016 at 8:15 AM

[…] making is constructing realities. The false claims of G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, Paul Earley and Greg Skipper are easily identified as are false claims of ignorance. (hiding knowledge […]

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ASAM Weekly Editorial recommends Physician Health Program (PHP) organizational groups provide addiction treatment advocacy on a national level to guide public policy: A RED FLAG if ever there was one. – Disrupted Physician says:

October 1, 2016 at 11:10 AM

[…] from the rest of the population. The contributions of G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, Paul Earley, and Greg Skipper to this false construct have been presented in previous […]

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ASAM Weekly Editorial recommends Physician Health Program (PHP) organizational groups provide addiction treatment advocacy on a national level to guide public policy: A RED FLAG if ever there was one. – Disrupted Physician says:

October 1, 2016 at 2:36 PM

[…] contributions of G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, Paul Earley, and Greg Skipper to this false construct have been presented in previous […]

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ASAM Weekly Editorial recommends Physician Health Program (PHP) organizational groups provide addiction treatment advocacy on a national level to guide public policy: A RED FLAG if ever there was one. – Disrupted Physician says:

October 1, 2016 at 2:47 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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Recommendation that Physician Health Program (PHPs) assume responsibility for addiction treatment public policy at the national level a dangerous red flag: Ideological and Financial COI is self-evident – Disrupted Physician says:

October 1, 2016 at 3:13 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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The conflicts-of-interest and propaganda are self-evident and promoting friends be placed in positions that were designed to improve addiction treatment for profit is egregious. An obvious ploy to influence legal, regulatory and healthcare policy for an t says:

October 1, 2016 at 6:57 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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The conflicts-of-interest and propaganda are self-evident and promoting friends be placed in positions that were designed to improve addiction treatment for profit is egregious. An obvious ploy to influence legal, regulatory and healthcare policy for an t says:

October 1, 2016 at 6:57 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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Conflicts-of-interest self-evident. Propaganda designed to obtain positions of power for friends is cronyism. Advocacy for addiction treatment exists to help people not harm them-an obvious ploy to influence legal, regulatory and healthcare policy for und says:

October 1, 2016 at 7:10 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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Conflicts-of-interest self-evident. Propaganda designed to obtain positions of power for friends is cronyism. Advocacy for addiction treatment exists to help people not harm them-an obvious ploy to influence legal, regulatory and healthcare policy for und says:

October 1, 2016 at 7:11 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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Conflicts-of-interest self-evident. Propaganda designed to obtain positions of power for friends is cronyism. Advocacy for addiction treatment exists to help people not harm them-an obvious ploy to influence legal, regulatory and healthcare policy under a says:

October 1, 2016 at 7:13 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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Conflicts-of-interest self-evident. Propaganda and cronyism to provide the appearance of benign advocacy–an obvious ploy to influence legal, regulatory and healthcare policy under a seemingly altruistic agenda for profit and power. – Disrupted says:

October 1, 2016 at 7:24 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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Conflicts-of-interest self-evident. Propaganda and cronyism to provide the appearance of benign advocacy–an obvious ploy to influence legal, regulatory and healthcare policy under a seemingly altruistic agenda for profit and power. – Disrupted says:

October 1, 2016 at 7:24 PM

[…] Medicine. The list can be seen here and includes G. Douglas Talbott, Robert Dupont, and Paul Earley whose contributions to the current paradigm I have detailed in previous posts. The list also […]

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Disrupted Physician

The Physician Wellness Movement and Illegitimate Authority: The Need for Revolt and Reconstruction

“Weasel Phrases,” “Framing” and “Data-Dredging” is Not Science: Making the Data Fit the Hypothesis in the Rehab Racket

17 thoughts on ““Weasel Phrases,” “Framing” and “Data-Dredging” is Not Science: Making the Data Fit the Hypothesis in the Rehab Racket”

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