The lists below are reasons why people refuse to read Hypoic's Handbook and refuse to attempt to evaluate the validity of this new paradigm for the purposes of improving treatment and policies surrounding addictions.

Before you read this, let me warn you, you will find your reason for not reading about Hypoism listed here. Don't let that interfere with your learning about Hypoism, however. Your reason is irrational and biased even though you might believe it to be true. Try as hard as you can to ignore your reason not to learn about Hypoism. Fight the urge to let these prejudiced beliefs keep you from making the belated transition to reality and valid science in addictions. These prejudices listed below have interfered long enough. The downside to maintaining your prejudiced and unfounded beliefs about addictions is the perpetuation of all the current problems surrounding addictions of all varieties in our country. Do you see anything changing under the current paradigm? If you think that continuing along the same theoretical lines we have held to for the past 60 years will somehow miraculously result in some massive changes in addictions, you must ask yourself what the basis of that opinion is. Please consider these questions: What is more important to you, your beliefs or solving the innumerable problems caused by addictions? If it takes a detailed re-evaluation of the theory behind addictions, is it worth doing the work versus staying where we are?

Each reason is incorrect and provably incorrect, yet no one reading this page will cop to them or will answer my questions about their reasons. If anyone does answer the questions I will post them and their ensuing dialogues for all interested to consider. The overriding reason for why Hypoism is being ignored is one of the subtitles of Hypoic's Handbook: "Don't confuse me with the facts, I've already made up my mind." Addictions is the only medical issue in this country where this reason makes sense to the vast majority of people involved in the issue. It is the only medical disease in this country where opinions and beliefs are more important than facts, science, and reason. If I have left out any reasons or groups, please let me know what they are so I can add them to this list. Please note: There is not a single reason below centered on evidence or proof that Hypoism is wrong factually or in theory. In fact, the COGA Study on the genetics of alcoholism is well on its way to proving Hypoism.

List of Reasons by Reasons - followed by my question(s) about them:

• "I already know about addictions and recovery." - Can you write down your theory, all the steps from the cause to the behavior as well as showing how treatment/recovery is derived from this theory and how and why it "works," and scientifically valid proof that it works over extended periods of time (5+ years), send it to me, and answer my questions to you about it?
• "The experts and government officials are handling it." - Can you write down their theory, all the steps from the cause to the behavior as well as showing how treatment/recovery is derived from this theory and how and why it "works," and scientifically valid proof that it works over extended periods of time (5+ years), send it to me, and answer my questions to you about it? Send me the proof that they are handling it. If you can't prove that the experts are handling it why are you not opposing their treatments and policies? If this reason is true, why are addictions continuing unabated over the last 50 years with a recovery rate unchanged at 5%, an abysmal rate of recovery for any problem you or your family might be unfortunate enough to have?
• "I don't have to tell you. I'm entitled to my opinion and belief." - Yes you do, and no you're not when you are using your opinion and belief to form a basis for what happens to people other than yourself, including allowing invalid treatments and public policies to continue unopposed. Tell me why you think your unproven opinion and belief is valid for other people to use and why allowing invalid treatments and policies to continue unopposed is ethical? Since when are opinions valid explanations of and treatments for a medical disease?
• "Dr. Umanoff is not an expert." He's a Nephrologist. What right does he have to write a book about addictions?" - How does this reason affect the validity of my paradigm? If the experts haven't proven their theories, what makes them experts? What is the qualification for being labeled an expert in addiction? Have you answered one of the first two questions? Why not?
• "The Hypoism paradigm is wrong." - Have you read the book? If not, how can you make such a statement? If so, please send me your specific arguments showing which part of the paradigm is wrong and why.
• "The higher power is handling it." - Is this your stance on all medical diseases? If so, tell me you don't use man made technology or medicine in any area of your life? If not, why not? What makes addiction a special case for HP to handle while men of science are handling all others? If the HP is so smart and omnipotent, how is it possible for him/her to make such a mess of addictions?
• "My job depends on keeping addicts addicted and sick." - Why can't you get a more productive job?
• "I'm too stupid and lazy." - No problem, but then you have no right to have an opinion. Please explain why you think you do, if you do?
• "Addiction isn't a disease, it's a choice." Please explain how such a choice is genetically transmitted as all addiction are?
• "There have been so many nonsensical theories that I have already evaluated, I've lost the energy to read another one. I don't believe anyone will ever come up with the actual paradigm on addictions. Hypoism must be just another nonsensical paradigm." - Why are you reading this then? Get back to work. There is still hope for a realistic paradigm to be devised.
• "I've never heard of Hypoism. It doesn't exist." - Why wouldn't the definition of a new disease not require a new name for that disease?
• "You're a horrible writer. Your book is written too poorly to be worth reading." - How does this relate to the validity of the paradigm?
• "You're too angry. We don't like that. It upsets us." - How does this relate to the validity of the paradigm?
• "I'm sober and that's all that matters. We don't need a paradigm. Keep it simple, stupid." - And other AA nonsense and biased selfishness that's good for AA but not for addicts. What about the 95% of addicts who can't get sober your way? Oughtn't they be allowed to know what causes their disease so they may have a chance to get sober too? Why are recovering addicts the only people with a disease who don't want to know anything about it? Acquiescing to the incorrect paradigm out of recovery snobbery perpetuates the disease in everyone else. Why keep them from knowing about their disease even if you don't want to know about yours. I hope you don't relapse because you might need to know more about your disease to get sober the second time.
• "How could genes determine behavior? There are no genes known to man that cause addictions. That's ridiculous. That's against the whole current paradigm of human behavior. The cerebral cortex is in control of behavior, not the limbic system." - True, genes don't cause addictions, genetic deficiencies, just the opposite, cause addictions. How else do you explain the high heritability of addictions in humans (especially twin studies) and animals and their inexorable nature without taking this into account and having it be the determiner of the behavior? Make sure you send me this answer in writing with the proof of your theory of addiction causation.

List of Reasons by Group: (if I have left out any group, please inform me and I will add it)

• The Addict: Believes he/she's too ignorant, bad, and unentitled to get involved. The science is too hard to even attempt to read. Won't read it and won't answer the questions. Too stupid and bad. Too frightened to get caught.
• The Psychologist (and other "mental health" professionals such as social workers, nurses, addiction counselors, etc.): Believes he/she knows about addictions but won't respond to my questions. Believes I'm not entitled to ask them. Too smart and biased. Hypoism might interfere with their jobs and image. Wants to remain in control at the expense of addicts. Hypoism takes away clients.
• The Psychiatrist: Believes he/she knows about addictions but won't respond to my questions. Believes I'm not entitled to ask them. Way too smart and biased. Hypoism might interfere with their jobs and image. Wants to remain in control at the expense of addicts. Hypoism takes away clients.
• The Recovering Addict: Believes he/she knows about recovery, doesn't have to know about the science of addictions, and won't respond to any questions. Believes I'm not entitled to ask them. They spout repetitively and in unison, "I got sober by so and so program or such and such therapy or medication. It worked for me and that's all I need to know. Everyone gets sober their own way. Somethings work for some and others for others. Recovery is individual and spiritual. I didn't come here to be a robot. Recovery is a choice." Too afraid to question or buck his recovery authority or lose his/her anonymity. Wants to believe he/she's now normal and never really had a disease. They help perpetuate the problem while believing they're solving it through their stubborn and fearful mythology. Current recovery has stalled at 5% because of this. Hypoism, like any heretical idea, just scares them.
• Policy makers: Don't need or want to know about theory. Believes he/she knows the best policies despite any theory, and won't even read this page no less answer the questions.
• The Media: They only report what they think will be a good story, irrespective of what is right or wrong. They won't answer these questions because they only ask them, they don't answer them. The media is not as smart or open-minded as they think they are.
• Criminal Justice System: Likes the current paradigm. It keeps them employed and busy. Gives them someone they can beat up. Hypoism takes away clients.
• Racists (addictophobes): There is no one else they are legally allowed to hate and persecute.
• The Family Members and Significant Others of Addicts: They're just too confused and ashamed to come up with a reason. It's just too complicated for them. They might have to admit their own addictions if they deal honestly with the issue altogether.
• Health Foundations and Philanthropies: They already have their experts and have no need for new ones. Evaluate a theory? Please. They won't get their hands dirty. Their image is more important than their effectiveness. They're rich enough to have their beliefs become reality. That their money is being wasted and their goals unattained is less important than are the ineffective prevention and education programs they like the looks and appearances of so much. They are so proud.
• Medical Journals: They have no need for truth, only the perception of truth. Peer review has deteriorated to I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine. Political correctness and consensus has replaced science here. For them, it's better to be on the right side of a theory than have it be scientifically valid. Support from drug companies skews research and publishing towards drug control of addictions irrespective of the ill effects the drugs have on addicts. Hypoism is too unorthodox and unacceptable to even read it. The word isn't in the dictionary. Besides, who is Dr. Umanoff anyway and who does he think he is criticizing and bucking the establishment?
• Addiction and Addict Advocates: They're already bought and paid for by groups involved in either making money from addictions or perpetuating a philosophical or religious agenda. These groups aren't interested in addicts or addictions except in how their supporters can profit from them in one biased way or another. They want the government and health insurance companies to fund the goose that laid the golden egg. Hypoism is anathema.
• Addiction Rehabilitation Industry: For this group, the more irrational the theory and treatment the better. They want the government and health insurance companies to fund the goose that laid the golden egg. Hypoism ruins everything.
• Governmental Addiction Research (like NIH, NIAAA, and NIDA) and Policy Agencies (like the DEA): These groups are interested only in controlling addicts, not helping them. Thus, their research and the research they fund throughout the country is designed around policies and drugs to stop addicts in their tracks, or put them in concrete or chemical prisons. Hypoism spoils their plans. Their main interest is in growth not success.