Author: billstaufferpa

William Stauffer is the Director of Pennsylvania Recovery Organization Alliance (PRO-A). In recovery for well over 3 decades, he is a nationally recognized trainer and writer addiction and recovery. He has testified to the US Senate Special Committee on Aging and in 2019, he organized a hearing with the PA House Human Services Committee to expand opportunities for young people. He is a past co-chair of the public policy committee for Faces & Voices of Recovery and the 2019 recipient of the Vernon Johnson Award Individual Recovery Advocate of the year. He teaches Social Work at Misericordia University. He was recently named to the Leadership Council of Foundations for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) a national think / do tank where he serves alongside some of the most respected leaders in the SUD service system. In December 2022, Mr. Stauffer was invited to serve Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro & Lieutenant Gov-Elect Austin Davis on the state Human Services transition team.

Interview #14 Cathy Nugent – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

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Forward:  As I was doing interviews for this series, a number of people I spoke with referenced how integral Cathy Nugent was to the process. Not only for her being involved in the historic summit, but also for her role as the first grant officer for the Recovery Community Service Program (RCSP), funded through SAMHSA. … Continue reading Interview #14 Cathy Nugent – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

Reflections in the New Recovery Advocacy Movement – An Interview with Mark Sanders On the Development of African American Recovery Communities

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Mark Sanders  LCSW, CADC Forward - The first time I had heard about Mark Sanders was when I was preparing for Black History month in early 2013. I wanted to highlight the history of recovery within African American communities in our quarterly recovery newsletter. After initiating an internet search, I quickly found the Online Museum … Continue reading Reflections in the New Recovery Advocacy Movement – An Interview with Mark Sanders On the Development of African American Recovery Communities

It Is Painfully Obvious That Discrimination Remains Our Greatest Challenge

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Purdue Pharma funded drug abuse campaign media Painfully Obvious was the propaganda campaign that Purdue Pharma deployed to teach school children in America that addicted people are bad people. What is also painfully obvious is it is far too easy to influence Americans discriminatory and stigmatizing ideas that affirm existing biases. The graphic here is … Continue reading It Is Painfully Obvious That Discrimination Remains Our Greatest Challenge

Pseudoaddiction, Truthiness and the Moral Model of Addiction in America

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The moral model of addiction is alive and well in the United States of America. Viewers of the Hulu series Dopesick learned something about this in episode four. It featured Purdue Pharma executive Dr. David Haddox. He is infamous now. He helped fabricate a condition called Pseudoaddiction. He did so to help Purdue Pharma sell … Continue reading Pseudoaddiction, Truthiness and the Moral Model of Addiction in America

 On Pervasive Systemic Stressors and Restoring Safety

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I was thinking about writing on something entirely positive in the recovery space, and yet here is the piece which does not fit that Bill, pun noted. All things considered, I am optimistic about our future, and underpinning this is the knowledge that a primary facet of recovery (and the recovery movement) is acknowledging uncomfortable … Continue reading  On Pervasive Systemic Stressors and Restoring Safety

Gratitude Friday 10/22/21 – The Labor of Recovery Service

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I have decided to post this on both blogs I write on, my own and Recovery Review it is a personal reflection on recovery service and related tribulations and what keeps me going. This week was my recovery anniversary. I am getting closer to two thirds of my life in active recovery. I got into … Continue reading Gratitude Friday 10/22/21 – The Labor of Recovery Service

An Open Letter to SAMHSA and the SSA’s On Inclusion – Our History and A Cautionary Tale

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The redoubled focus on recovery within our federal administration is heartening. This is an area in which history is instructive. Many years ago, advocates from the recovery community, including those in my own home state of Pennsylvania met with SAMHSA and educated them on the value of creating a funding stream for recovery community on … Continue reading An Open Letter to SAMHSA and the SSA’s On Inclusion – Our History and A Cautionary Tale

Interview 12 – Betty Currier – Recovery Review Blog Series – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

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Forward: I am quite sure I had never met or spoken with Betty before this interview. She is 83 years young and her zest for life and learning came through the telephone line loud and clear.She was modest when sharing her significant life accomplishments. I felt like some additional context on what Betty contributed to … Continue reading Interview 12 – Betty Currier – Recovery Review Blog Series – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

It is Time to Reform Our Care System Inclusively To Save Lives and Communities

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This week, I am attending Mobilize Recovery in Las Vegas. Recovery advocates from around the nation, have gathered together here for a third year through the Recovery Advocacy Project. PRO-A the statewide recovery community organization of Pennsylvania has been honored to participate in it since its inception. The message here is that together, we can … Continue reading It is Time to Reform Our Care System Inclusively To Save Lives and Communities