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)
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.
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 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)
Constructive Feedback and thoughts on the SAMHSA Unified Client-Level Performance Reporting Tool (SUPRT)
As posted in the Federal Register in early September, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA is seeking approval for the new SAMHSA Unified Client-level Performance Reporting … Continue reading Constructive Feedback and thoughts on the SAMHSA Unified Client-Level Performance Reporting Tool (SUPRT)
Overdoses in Decline – Progress on a One-Dimensional Measure
The other day, I saw this media clip, CDC: Opioid overdose deaths decline nationwide from PBS. It notes that according to provisional data, we have the lowest rate of national overdose related deaths in three years. It describes a 10.6% decline in overdose deaths from April 2023 to April 2024. The article frames naloxone as … Continue reading Overdoses in Decline – Progress on a One-Dimensional Measure
Standing Up for Recovery: the Example of Mercedes McCambridge
Looking back on the history of American recovery efforts, one can see waves of grassroot groups coming together in distinct movements that rise and dissipate over time. Some rise and collapse quickly and others slowly swell and dissipate as momentum is lost, conditions change and key leaders are lost. Our modern era of recovery advocacy … Continue reading Standing Up for Recovery: the Example of Mercedes McCambridge
The Devolution of PRSS and the Lost Lessons of Earlier Eras
“The service commitment of recovering people can be exploited within rising or expanding systems of care in ways that undermine both role performance and the personal health/recovery of these workers. The modern system of addiction treatment was built on the backs of people in recovery, many of whom were then discarded through the professionalization and … Continue reading The Devolution of PRSS and the Lost Lessons of Earlier Eras
Bias Against Recovery in PA Cannabis Certification Program
There is a recent story that originated out of Spotlight PA by reporter Ed Mahon that keeps intruding in my thoughts as quite disturbing, Prior misconduct rarely an obstacle for doctors in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program. Before delving into the details and why it is one that I find so troubling, first I would note … Continue reading Bias Against Recovery in PA Cannabis Certification Program
The Recovery We See – Healing Across the Spectrum of SUDs
A decade ago, there was a viral moment on social media called “the Dress,” millions of people saw the picture here and chimed in on what color that they perceived the dress to be. It has its own Wikipedia reference. Viewers either see a black and blue dress, or white and gold dress. One article … Continue reading The Recovery We See – Healing Across the Spectrum of SUDs
Preserving & Building on Our Knowledge: The Vanishing Role of Special Libraries – Bill Stauffer & William White
“How Can an Academic Field Come So Far and Then Erase Itself?” – Andrea Mitchell Et Al, Collective Amnesia: Reversing the Global Epidemic of Addiction Library Closures (2012) Libraries and Librarians are unsung heroes--knowledge custodians who have played a critical role in human endeavors across the eons. Every major institution has seminal documents and generations … Continue reading Preserving & Building on Our Knowledge: The Vanishing Role of Special Libraries – Bill Stauffer & William White
Recovery Review 