Ethics involves the application of moral principles to promote good and prevent harm. Ethical decision-making within our service and advocacy activities is an assessment of the ratio of potential benefits to potential harms in any course of action—with a particular emphasis on “first do no harm.” Such decision-making involves asking ourselves three questions. First, what … Continue reading THE ETHICS OF PUBLIC RECOVERY SELF-DISCLOSURE (BILL WHITE, BILL STAUFFER, AND DANIELLE TARINO)
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.
PILLARS OF STIGMA AND RECOVERY STORYTELLING (BILL WHITE, BILL STAUFFER, AND DANIELLE TARINO)
December 3, 2020 A central goal of public recovery self-disclosure is to challenge myths and misconceptions about addiction and recovery through the elements of our personal stories. Recovery advocates must avoid contributing to false narratives by having selective parts of our stories appropriated while ignoring the central recovery message. Addiction/treatment/recovery-related social stigma and its untoward … Continue reading PILLARS OF STIGMA AND RECOVERY STORYTELLING (BILL WHITE, BILL STAUFFER, AND DANIELLE TARINO)
I see you Millennial and Zoomer Recovery Advocates!
I have been thinking lately of the generational shifts in the recovery movement and what it means for our collective future. Young people in recovery face an uncertain future. Less opportunity, less optimism about the future and strained social networks have made things been particularly hard for them. They have been devastated by deaths of … Continue reading I see you Millennial and Zoomer Recovery Advocates!
THE RISKS OF PUBLIC RECOVERY STORYTELLING (BILL WHITE, BILL STAUFFER, AND DANIELLE TARINO)
The first blog in this series explored the value and limitations of recovery storytelling as an anti-stigma strategy. We suggested that public storytelling is best wedded to larger recovery community inclusive strategies that move beyond the goal of changing personal attitudes to the larger goal of dismantling the institutional machinery that perpetuates stigma and discrimination. … Continue reading THE RISKS OF PUBLIC RECOVERY STORYTELLING (BILL WHITE, BILL STAUFFER, AND DANIELLE TARINO)
Thanksgiving 2020 – Reflections of Gratitude from an Inner Eeyore
Reflecting back this morning of some very early lessons in my recovery journey and what I have grown to understand about the power of gratitude. Full disclosure here – I am not inherently a positive person. My inner voice can be quite negative with great frequency and intensity. Negative thinking, lists of things that have … Continue reading Thanksgiving 2020 – Reflections of Gratitude from an Inner Eeyore
PERSONAL PRIVACY AND PUBLIC RECOVERY ADVOCACY (BILL WHITE, BILL STAUFFER, AND DANIELLE TARINO)
A central strategy of the new recovery movement is sharing our stories in public and professional venues to change public perceptions and public policies related to addiction and recovery. Drawing from earlier social movements, we learned that “contact strategies”—increasing personal contact between marginalized and mainstream populations—is one of the most effective means of reducing stigma … Continue reading PERSONAL PRIVACY AND PUBLIC RECOVERY ADVOCACY (BILL WHITE, BILL STAUFFER, AND DANIELLE TARINO)
The Seed Vault of Recovery History and Our New Recovery Advocacy Movement
This week, I listened to an excellent interview on The Best Minds Podcast featuring Harvard trained physician and internationally recognized addiction expert Dr Robert DuPont. I was struck by his humble wisdom. He spoke about his early work with methadone patients and how many of them eventually died from alcoholism. He spoke about how narrowly … Continue reading The Seed Vault of Recovery History and Our New Recovery Advocacy Movement
I am a card-carrying member of the nonpartisan “Recovery Party”
Reposted from March 2020 with minor edits “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” ― J.K. Rowling This is a political post; I hope readers give me a chance and hear me out. As I have said before, I am a student of history, and have … Continue reading I am a card-carrying member of the nonpartisan “Recovery Party”
Substance Use Care System On a Precipice
I have been a student of the field for well over three decades. I have operated an outpatient and a residential program treatment program and in recent years ran our statewide recovery community organization here in Pennsylvania. My work has led me to be very engaged with policy matters, with care system workforce being a … Continue reading Substance Use Care System On a Precipice
Can We Please Stop Saying Recovery is Possible?
Imagine this scenario. You get the terrible diagnoses of cancer, like addiction, it is terminal if left on its dreadful course unimpeded. You are in the depths of despair, facing everything this terrible diagnosis means for your life. The treating professional turns to you and says “recovery is possible. It is POSSIBLE you might survive … Continue reading Can We Please Stop Saying Recovery is Possible?
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