Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing 2025’s posts with the most views. Today is #1. I published the post below last month, which resulted in an invitation to speak with DeAnn and Craig Knighton on their podcast, Recovery Discovery. It was a fun conversation and I thought I'd share that with you here. … Continue reading 2025’s Top Posts – #1 – The AI Mirror: “take that small hit, and you’ll be fine”
Earlier today, we posted the #2 post of 2025, which was about the emergence of a synthetic analog to nicotine. it’s interesting to me that we start with tobacco, move to nicotine vape, then on to the nicotine pouch, and eventually drift to synthetic nicotine analogs. And all along we see a consistent theme of: harmful … Continue reading Drugs, synthetic analogs, and regulation
Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing 2025’s posts with the most views. Today is #3. I've seen this article shared several times recently. Here's the premise: The incoming Trump administration wants to improve public safety, push back on progressive cultural politics, and cut wasteful federal spending. One way to do all three? Abolish … Continue reading 2025’s Top Posts – #3 – Abolish SAMHSA? On advocacy and criticism
Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing 2025’s posts with the most views. Today is #7. Some of us intend to do occasional reviews of some of William White's papers. Many of his most important papers are 25 years old, meaning a whole new generation of addiction professionals have entered the workforce since they … Continue reading 2025’s Top Posts – #7 – Relapse and burnout among recovering addiction professionals
2025 has been a very challenging year for many organizations serving people with addiction and other vulnerable people. If you're the kind of person looking to share your blessings this time of year, I'd like to offer some worthy organizations I'm connected to as options. National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA) - Their mission … Continue reading Spread the cheer
Recently, I came across the 2026 Conference Agenda Report from the World Service Conference of Narcotics Anonymous. A recent post on Narcotics Anonymous sparked a lot of online discussion. It focused on professionals' lack of cognitive empathy and condescension toward NA. . . . they frame the ~250,000 Narcotics Anonymous members who are lay people, gathering in … Continue reading “Who is missing from our meetings?”
What does care for substance use problems in the US look like? I don't really know. We hear a lot about substance use problem care dominated by an abstinence orientation. Is it? What form does most substance use care take? I don't really know. When these statements are made, they are often focused on specialty … Continue reading What does care for substance use problems look like?
I have no interest in commenting on the Reiner family tragedy. Nick Reiner has only been charged and is presumed innocent at this point. I know next to nothing about him. I don't know much about his addiction, whether he has had known mental health issues, or other problems that are likely to be discussed … Continue reading The addiction must go; the person must stay.
Source: wikipedia This blog has had several posts on drug use, addiction, liberty, and involuntary treatment. I've used the expression, borrowed from Keith Humphreys, of choosing between "hands on" and "hands off" approaches. A recent article focuses on the use of involuntary Substance Use Disorder treatment under limited circumstances. This is toward the far end … Continue reading Involuntary compassionate intervention?
Guest post by Melissa McGill [photo credit: Joshua Eghelshi] Why Do We Share Our Stories? The first time someone stands up in a recovery group and says, “This is what happened to me,” the room changes. Silence turns into nods, shame into recognition. Stories in recovery aren’t small talk—they’re lifelines. They are how we find … Continue reading Why Sharing Stories in Recovery Matters: The Hero’s Journey and the Identified Patient
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