The topic of this article concerns defects in the alcoholic family system that are caused by the birth of a well baby. This article is not about defects found in a newborn. As we consider the topic of defects in the family system, for the purposes of this article, let’s consider the family system as … Continue reading Birth-Related Defects in the Alcoholic Family System
Recovery, activism, and character
Bill White recently wrote a powerful post about the intersection of recovery, character, and activism. First, on character as an essential element of recovery advocacy: What is the role of character reconstruction in addiction recovery? In recovery activism? I have repeatedly returned to these questions over the course of my adult life, especially as young … Continue reading Recovery, activism, and character
Alcohol deaths response – a whimper rather than a bang?
Given that there was a 17% year on year increase in fatalities and that the number of alcohol-specific deaths is a significant underestimate of deaths in which alcohol plays a part, I wondered in a tweet why there was a more muted reaction to the alcohol deaths than to the drug deaths. This touched a nerve it seems. A lot of responses were generated and I wanted to share some of the themes here.
Choice in addiction treatment: A little more. Recovery-Oriented Methadone Maintenance?
A few days ago David McCartney posted an interesting piece titled "Choice in addiction treatment." That post got me recollecting about clinical practices in our outpatient methadone maintenance program that I thought I would briefly share - in case this historical information is somehow helpful or interesting to someone. Our methadone maintenance program began operation … Continue reading Choice in addiction treatment: A little more. Recovery-Oriented Methadone Maintenance?
Homogenizing Addiction & Recovery
The other day, as I was going through social media, I saw a friend talking about being in a store when an alarm went off when what he had purchased set off an anti-theft device. He spoke about what a great feeling it was to stop and wait for a clerk to deal with the … Continue reading Homogenizing Addiction & Recovery
Choice in addiction treatment
As a GP in inner-city Glasgow in the 1990s, I looked after patients with heroin addiction. I got to know many of them well, I knew their families, I immunised their children and, distressingly, I saw some of them die. Because of the nature of general practice, I saw the dreadful impact of those deaths … Continue reading Choice in addiction treatment
Interview #11 Dr H. Westley Clark – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the Start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement
Forward: I first met Dr. H. Westley Clark. MD, JD around the year 2000, when I heard him speak at an event in Philadelphia. He has had such a huge positive influence work to move our SUD care system towards a recovery focus. He is still very active in the field in his current position … Continue reading Interview #11 Dr H. Westley Clark – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the Start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement
What effect does harm reduction have on recovery culture? Guest blog by Dylan Lundgren
It seems to be human nature to go to extremes; especially when something shows promising results. Harm reduction has been shown to save lives and therefore should be celebrated and implemented. However, it seems that harm reduction has become the entire conversation about recovery; specifically, the support of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). Alex Pentland, a professor studying human behaviour at … Continue reading What effect does harm reduction have on recovery culture? Guest blog by Dylan Lundgren
Interview #10 William Cope Moyers – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement
Forward: We have a long and rich history of recovery in America. It is vital to understand the effort that has gone into providing avenues into recovery. It has taken an incredible effort over many generations to get us as far as we are in respect to eliminating disparate care and discrimination, improving access to … Continue reading Interview #10 William Cope Moyers – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement
We All Need to Learn “Prevention”
Prevention of substance use is probably more important than ever. And the relevance of prevention across the lifespan (including among those who have already initiated use) has probably never been more important. Why would I say that? The purity and potency of substances have increased so much that preventing even a one-time use of certain … Continue reading We All Need to Learn “Prevention”