In the first two posts of this series, I described the origin and then the early evolution of what we call the Recovery Alliance Initiative. I encourage you to go back and read those installments before you read this one on the expansion and clarification of our model and methods. Through our many conversations and … Continue reading The Recovery Alliance Initiative – Expansion and Clarification
The Recovery Alliance Initiative – Evolution
In the first post in this series, I described concepts connected to the origin and early formation of the Recovery Advocacy Alliance. For the sake of continuity and understanding, I encourage you to go back and read that post if you haven’t done that yet. This is the second post in the series. In this … Continue reading The Recovery Alliance Initiative – Evolution
The Recovery Alliance Initiative
This is the first post in a series within which I will provide an overview and history of the Recovery Alliance Initiative. Here’s the Alliance website in case you would like to check that out. The Recovery Alliance Initiative began as an idea in 2013. What started as an idea developed into a structured method … Continue reading The Recovery Alliance Initiative
Is rehab effective? The results are in.
This summary of the research evidence provides verification that “that residential rehabilitation is associated with improvements across a variety of outcomes relating to substance use, health and quality of life”. Rehab is linked to improvements in mental health, offending, social engagement, employment, reduction in substance use and abstinence. There is little research that compares rehab with other treatments delivered in the community, but where there is, the evidence suggests that “residential treatment produces more positive outcomes in relation to substance use than other treatment modalities.” The review also suggests that rehab can be more cost-effective over time than other treatments
Sentences to ponder
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com To what extent does this tendency influence discussions around addiction and drug policy -- elevating counterintuitive and novel ideas? “Human attention is drawn to novelty, to things that are new and unexpected,” says Aral. “We gain in status when we share novel information because it looks like we're in the … Continue reading Sentences to ponder
The Algorithm of Medical Care Discrimination
Persons like me in long term recovery can face horrible treatment if it becomes known we have had a substance use disorder. This is particularly true when we may need controlled substances as part of our legitimate medical care. There are now algorithms being used to scan our personal and medical data to see if … Continue reading The Algorithm of Medical Care Discrimination
Bill White’s website has moved
Early this morning I noticed that Mike Dennis, the researcher at Lighthouse Institute, posted the following on his LinkedIn account: Researchers and practitioners who access Bill’s website, williamwhitepapers.com, will notice a new look effective May 24, 2022. Mike said the new address for Bill's content is: https://www.chestnut.org/william-white-papers/ and that users navigating to the previous web address … Continue reading Bill White’s website has moved
Grief and Depression as Factors in Addiction Counseling
Disclaimer: nothing in this post should be taken or held as clinical instruction, clinical supervision, or advisory concerning patient care. In his 1916 article1 titled “Mourning and Melancholia” Sigmund Freud grappled with clarifying the differences between melancholy and mourning. In his usage melancholy refers to what we would loosely call “depression” and mourning refers to … Continue reading Grief and Depression as Factors in Addiction Counseling
Loss of Institutional Knowledge – a Critical Tipping Point in the SUD Workforce Crisis
Our substance use care system workforce has long faced very high turnover rates. One of the studies from years ago that always stuck with me as framing out the challenges and value of working in our field, was from 2003, the toughest job you'll ever love: A Pacific Northwest Treatment Workforce Survey. It identified turnover … Continue reading Loss of Institutional Knowledge – a Critical Tipping Point in the SUD Workforce Crisis
Polarisation, tension and hostility: just another day in the field of addictions.
Someone relatively new to the substance use disorder area asked me recently why I thought there was so much division and hostility in the addiction and recovery field, compared to other parts of health and social care. Do we really have more conflict than in some other healthcare areas? There are strongly held positions which … Continue reading Polarisation, tension and hostility: just another day in the field of addictions.