Ernie Kurtz offers his perspective on the spirituality of AA. Ah yes, those “stupid meetings.” Well, in the first place, meetings are a very useful place in which to find others whom one may help. Most of the time, in most of our acquaintanceships, individuals do not show their need, do not ask for help. But at … Continue reading Those stupid meetings
Author: Jason Schwartz
I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I currently serve as the Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care for a healthcare system. I've also served as the Director of Behavioral Health at another hospital. I'm also a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work.
Views expressed here are my own.
Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.
What lifts people out of addiction?
Ernie Kurtz just published a great piece in Salon, but that's for tomorrow. For today, here's a repost of a 2006 post linking to a great talk by Rabbi and doctor Abraham Twerski on spirituality and recovery. ======================== As founder and medical director emeritus of Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Dr. Twerski spoke last month at the … Continue reading What lifts people out of addiction?
When heroin hit the suburbs . . .
The Washington Post published an opinion piece on media coverage of the current opiate epidemic. Two things lept out to the writers: Last month, NBC News ran a series of stories about the United States’ “growing heroin epidemic.” Two things stand out in the reports: One is their sympathetic tone; the other is that almost everyone … Continue reading When heroin hit the suburbs . . .
Contribute by Listening
I'm not Christian, or even a believer, but there's a lot of truth in this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. These truths are especially important for helpers. “The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His word, so the beginning … Continue reading Contribute by Listening
Acamprosate and naltrexone have 5% to 8% success rates over 12 weeks
JAMA just published a meta analysis of medications used to treat alcoholism. Here are their findings: To prevent 1 person from returning to any drinking, the NNTs were 12 (95% CI, 8 to 26; 16 trials, n = 4847) and 20 (95% CI, 11 to 500; 16 trials, n = 2347) for acamprosate and oral naltrexone (50 mg/d), respectively. … Continue reading Acamprosate and naltrexone have 5% to 8% success rates over 12 weeks
Sentences to ponder
"Our consumer culture is organized against history. There is a depreciation of memory and a ridicule of hope, which means everything must be held in the now, either an urgent now or an eternal now. Either way, a community rooted in energizing memories and summoned by radical hopes is a curiosity and a threat in such a … Continue reading Sentences to ponder
“Chasing” pain
About 15 years ago, a physician friend discussed the difference between pain and suffering, and the different responses to each. This article makes me wonder how often we fail to address suffering and focus exclusively on treating pain. That may make sense with acute pain, but addressing suffering seems to be an essential element of … Continue reading “Chasing” pain
Whose goals should drive treatment?
DJ Mac provides an important review of a couple of recent studies look at what Scottish treatment seekers want and how they and their families define success. He summarizes their findings this way: On abstinence: “Many felt that stopping substance use was a prerequisite of effective treatment and created a virtuous circle of feeling better, … Continue reading Whose goals should drive treatment?
Dawn Farm loves moms!
We talk to a lot of moms every day. If being a mom is a tough job with big rewards, this is even truer for moms of addicts. Especially when the rewards aren't guaranteed. Here are some of the reasons we love moms at Dawn Farm. Moms are the people who most often seek treatment … Continue reading Dawn Farm loves moms!
Fading at 3 months, gone in 6
From a meta-analysis of contingency management: Adding prize-based contingency management to behavioral support for substance use disorders can increase short-term abstinence but the effect does not appear to persist to 6 months.
Recovery Review 