Here is an audio/video upload of a presentation called "Narcotics Anonymous: The Early Story." I've listened to it time and again. This fascinating talk has been given at NA World, and on various continents and regions of the globe. My other favorite is this bit of writing titled "Narcotics Anonymous: Its History and Culture." … Continue reading My favorite resources on the history of Narcotics Anonymous
Author: Brian Coon
Stigma, humanizing terms, and taking on hostility: A little more
Earlier today Jason Schwartz posted on the notion that the word “relapse” is stigmatizing, that the preferred term is “recurrence of use”, and the lack of empirical evidence addressing this topic. I will add a little more. "Relapse" is currently my preferred term rather than “recurrence of use". Why? In clinical work focused on relapse … Continue reading Stigma, humanizing terms, and taking on hostility: A little more
Negative space
Negative Space and Art In visual art, the area outside or around the main object is called “negative space”. For example, if one draws a deer and places the deer on an abstract background, the abstract background is termed “negative space”. In art, negative space is important. What should the negative space be made of? … Continue reading Negative space
Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Michael Harney
Who are you? My name is Michael Joseph Harney, Jr. I was born in Newport News, Virginia at Riverside Hospital. I grew up in the city called Hampton, Virginia. When people ask me where I’m from I say “Hampton, Newport News” and they can’t figure out which one I’m from, but that was the peninsula. … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Michael Harney
“Recovery”: let’s do the math
In this essay I make two claims. My two claims will take the form of slightly changed versions of two borrowed sentences. (I will present the original versions of the two borrowed sentences later in the essay). I simply took the borrowed sentences and changed a few key words. In my changed version of each … Continue reading “Recovery”: let’s do the math
One, Two, or None?
Opioid maintenance therapy (OMT), also called medication-assisted treatment (MAT), is known as a Gold Standard addiction treatment. That’s one Gold Standard if you are keeping count. The model of care used by Physician Health Programs (PHP’s) is known as a Gold Standard addiction treatment. That’s two Gold Standards if you are keeping count. But what … Continue reading One, Two, or None?
What IS Addiction?
Lately, I’ve been preparing some updates of training materials. In doing so, I’ve gone back and re-gathered old information from original sources once again, as I have done before. This time, it's been especially interesting. See what you notice in comparing the definition of addiction from ASAM in 2011, the DSM-5 in 2013, and from … Continue reading What IS Addiction?
Addiction Professionals In the Pandemic – Terrence Walton
Who are you? I’m Terrence Walton. I am a husband that just celebrated his 20th anniversary, a father of two small children, and a man who has dedicated his life to two big things. One is the well-being, in every sense of the word, of my family, and then secondly is to help free men … Continue reading Addiction Professionals In the Pandemic – Terrence Walton
Should We Include a Moral Dimension? The Aesthetics and Anesthetics of Addiction
The True, The Good, and the Beautiful In his lecture titled, “The True, The Good, and The Beautiful” Roger Scruton asks what those three things embrace and what they have to do with each other. Overall, the subject matter of that lecture is aesthetics: the philosophy of art and beauty. Scruton states that pleasure says, … Continue reading Should We Include a Moral Dimension? The Aesthetics and Anesthetics of Addiction
Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Chrissy Smith
Who are you? I’m Chrissy Smith. I’m a licensed clinical social worker, and I’m a mom, and a wife, and that about sums it up. I have a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Bradley University with a minor in Psychology. I have a Master’s in Social Work with a focus on Community Behavioral Health from … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Chrissy Smith
Recovery Review 