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.

2024’s Top Posts – #10 – Coopted and Colonized – Lessons from the Washingtonian Movement

~ billstaufferpa

History is not linear. Our movement, the New Recovery Advocacy Movement, like many social movements in the course of history develop and are then subject to decay. This history is important. The past is the pathway that has led to every door available to us in our current era. We can learn from history to … Continue reading 2024’s Top Posts – #10 – Coopted and Colonized – Lessons from the Washingtonian Movement

Occam’s Razor and the Industries of Addiction

~ billstaufferpa ~ 1 Comment

Addiction is immensely profitable for purveyors of drugs and their related businesses, both in the illicit and legitimate markets. As I wrote about last year, in  Portraying Abstinence Recovery as Puritanical Is in the Interest of Those Who Sell Addictive Drugs, industries selling addictive drugs have long targeted high-risk groups including youth and people in … Continue reading Occam’s Razor and the Industries of Addiction

An Interview with Maryanne Frangules of the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR)

~ billstaufferpa ~ 2 Comments

“Faces that are visible, voices who are vocal, will prove that recovery is valuable, and that is how we will be victorious!” - Maryanne Frangules of MOAR Maryanne Frangules has decades of experience as a recovery community advocate and community recovery capital builder. I have long thought about doing an interview with Maryanne Frangules. I … Continue reading An Interview with Maryanne Frangules of the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR)

John McKnight: A Voice for Vital Community – November 22, 1931 – November 2, 2024

~ billstaufferpa

“The associational world is the vital center of citizen production that is the foundation of our democracy — powered by trust.” – John L. McKnight I never met John McKnight, but in recent years I read two of his books after running across a reference to him in the writings of William White, I believe … Continue reading John McKnight: A Voice for Vital Community – November 22, 1931 – November 2, 2024

Societal Hikikomori and the Importance of Bridging Community Capital

~ billstaufferpa

“I know of a place, where you never get harmed. A magical place, with magical charms. Indoors! Indoors! Indoors!” —SpongeBob SquarePants Physical isolation is increasingly becoming a common way that people cope with challenges in our society.    Hikikomori is a Japanese term that describes a condition where a person, typically a young adult is socially … Continue reading Societal Hikikomori and the Importance of Bridging Community Capital

Once Bitten Twice Shy – the Recovery Community and the False Promise of Harmless Drugs

~ billstaufferpa ~ 6 Comments

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” ― Noel Langley, The Wizard of Oz Screenplay On March, 18th, 1898, Heroin was introduced to the world as a cough suppressant by its maker, Friedrich Bayer & Co, now known principally as a producer of Aspirin. Bayer marketed Heroin as a cough suppressant with weaker narcotic properties … Continue reading Once Bitten Twice Shy – the Recovery Community and the False Promise of Harmless Drugs

Authentic Vs. Astroturfed Recovery Events & Recovery Marketing   

~ billstaufferpa

2016 Recovery Event Pennsylvania Authentic was a term used often and broadly a decade ago when efforts to expand recovery community organizations, elevate recovery through public facing events organized by and for recovery community, and peer support services were gaining traction in America. The term authentic was used in relation to recovery advocacy and the … Continue reading Authentic Vs. Astroturfed Recovery Events & Recovery Marketing   

Guidelines for Personal Safety and Public Recovery Self-Disclosure (Bill White, Bill Stauffer, and Danielle Tarino)

~ billstaufferpa

December 17th, 2020 He who shows himself at every place will someday look for a place to hide. –African Proverb Earlier blogs in this series explored the benefits and limitations of public recovery disclosure, the potential risks to multiple parties involved in such disclosure, and the ethics of recovery disclosure. In this final blog in … Continue reading Guidelines for Personal Safety and Public Recovery Self-Disclosure (Bill White, Bill Stauffer, and Danielle Tarino)

The Ethics of Public Recovery Self-Disclosure (Bill White, Bill Stauffer, and Danielle Tarino)

~ billstaufferpa

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)