"I think once I made up my mind that I was allergic to alcohol, and that’s what I learned, it made sense to me. And I think it was kind of pointed out that you know if you were allergic to strawberries, you wouldn’t eat strawberries. And that made sense to me.” — Betty Ford … Continue reading Recovery Representation – The First Lady of Recovery Advocacy Stamp Reveal, April 5th, 2024
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.
Drug Use, Human Freedom, and the Question of Harm to Society
“The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins.” ― Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. The quote above has been attributed to historical figures including Oliver Wendell Holmes and Abraham Lincoln. While its origins are uncertain, it has links to prohibition. While in a contemporary lens, prohibition is viewed as an infringement … Continue reading Drug Use, Human Freedom, and the Question of Harm to Society
Valuing the Forest and Not Just the Individual Trees
The recovery community is like a vast, hidden forest that is creative and innovative. It has a lot of resources that have never been fully recognized for their value in the broader world. The rise of peer services, a focus on shifting from acute care models of short term, fragmented care to the Recovery Model … Continue reading Valuing the Forest and Not Just the Individual Trees
Alcohol – Our Normalized Drug of Destruction
Figure: Age-adjusted rates of alcohol-induced deaths, by sex: United States, 2000–2020 (CDC 2022) In 2020, William White wrote Alcohol use as a hidden epidemic on discrepancies between public concern and problematic use of illegal drugs in the 70s. In the era, alcohol related problems increased, while “panic over (then) recent drug surges (e.g., methamphetamines and … Continue reading Alcohol – Our Normalized Drug of Destruction
From Fordrunken to SUD – A Reflection on Shifting Labels and Stigma
“Language is a virus from outer space” ― William S. Burroughs I was taken to task a few weeks ago by a reader, who took exception to my use of the word addiction in one of my writings. It got me to thinking about our shifting language over time. The historic use of terms around … Continue reading From Fordrunken to SUD – A Reflection on Shifting Labels and Stigma
Parallels on Burnout & Buffering Across the Healthcare & SUD Care Systems
The entire US Labor force was devastated by the COVID Pandemic, which created new workforce challenges and exacerbated long standing concerns. Because of the nature of the pandemic, the healthcare sector faced some of the most profound challenges. It is important to understand the impact that these strains have had on the healthcare workforce. Negative … Continue reading Parallels on Burnout & Buffering Across the Healthcare & SUD Care Systems
Coopted and Colonized – Lessons from the Washingtonian Movement
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 Coopted and Colonized – Lessons from the Washingtonian Movement
2023’s #1 Post: Portraying Abstinence Recovery as Puritanical Is in the Interest of Those Who Sell Addictive Drugs
“I never trust a man who doesn't drink.” – John Wayne People do not trust people who moderate or abstain from substances, particularly alcohol. There is a sense that those of us who do so are looking at everyone else and judging them. I suppose some do, but I don’t think most of us do. … Continue reading 2023’s #1 Post: Portraying Abstinence Recovery as Puritanical Is in the Interest of Those Who Sell Addictive Drugs
2023’s #6 Post: It Is Time We Seize the Opportunity to Address SUD Stigma in the U.S. Healthcare System
Across our nation, far too often patients are treated rudely or provided inferior care when their healthcare provider learns that they use drugs, have a history of using drugs or are in recovery. Stigma is often the primary barrier for people seeking help. To shift these negative perceptions and improve care within our healthcare systems, … Continue reading 2023’s #6 Post: It Is Time We Seize the Opportunity to Address SUD Stigma in the U.S. Healthcare System
2023’s #7 Post: Effective Drug Policy Must Look Beyond Life Preservers!
An oft quoted observation by Desmond Tutu: “there comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” We seem to be stumbling on even the first measure, pulling people out of the river. We simply toss in … Continue reading 2023’s #7 Post: Effective Drug Policy Must Look Beyond Life Preservers!
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