Berlin, like many big cities has a heroin problem. People presenting for help are being prescribed opioid replacement therapy (ORT) - a form of medication assisted treatment (MAT) in greater numbers. That’s a good thing isn’t it? Yes, but it's not completely straightforward. A lot depends on what the professional and their patient think is … Continue reading Stuck on Methadone
Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Josh Meisler
Who are you? My name is Josh Meisler. I am a social worker and father of two school-aged daughters. What do you do professionally? I manage Recovery Support Services programming for Growth Works Inc. We are a non-profit agency based in Wayne County, Michigan. Do you have any personal interest in addiction and recovery that … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Josh Meisler
Families: forgotten in addiction treatment?
Addiction is an equal opportunity condition. Families get to suffer alongside the person with the problem. But as Alex Copello and Jim Orford noted in a past Addiction editorial, there’s a paradox here that needs attention. Firstly, evidence suggests that when families are involved by treatment services, retention in treatment is better. Retention in treatment is … Continue reading Families: forgotten in addiction treatment?
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 – Kristal Reyes
A friend shared this video of Kristal. It's so great that I wanted to share it with you and re-up her interview. https://youtu.be/lWVbHjl8JS8 Who are you? That is a loaded question! My name is Kristal Reyes, and I am a person in long-term recovery. I am also a wife, I'm a mother, I'm the Director … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Kristal Reyes
Developing insight, destabilizing insight
I was poking around in some journals looking for something to post about. I found 3 articles that interested me. One describes the intuitive truth that insight is associated with change, while the other two seem to complicate acquiring that insight. Broken brains? Photo by meo on Pexels.com Curing the broken brain model of addiction: … Continue reading Developing insight, destabilizing insight
The Seed Vault of Recovery History and Our New Recovery Advocacy Movement
This week, I listened to an excellent interview on The Best Minds Podcast featuring Harvard trained physician and internationally recognized addiction expert Dr Robert DuPont. I was struck by his humble wisdom. He spoke about his early work with methadone patients and how many of them eventually died from alcoholism. He spoke about how narrowly … Continue reading The Seed Vault of Recovery History and Our New Recovery Advocacy Movement
Is it okay to drink if you are in recovery from opiate dependence?
In times past, for those with opiate use disorder who were in treatment in therapeutic community settings, as progress was made and days abstinent from opiates grew, a beer might be allowed by staff, say on a Saturday night, in a supervised and supported fashion. Not in any service I have worked in, but nevertheless true … Continue reading Is it okay to drink if you are in recovery from opiate dependence?
Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Jude Johnson-Hostler
This interview was done by Chris Budnick. Thanks Chris and Jude! Who are you? Well, I will first start by saying I'm a woman in long term recovery. What that means is that I haven't found a reason, since June the 13th, 1991, to use any substance. I'm also a mom, a grandmother, a wife. … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Jude Johnson-Hostler
“I was running a heroin treatment program, they died of alcoholism”
David's post from yesterday explored some of Robert DuPont's research on programs for addicted physicians. Here's a recent interview with Dupont that explores his experience as a pioneer in methadone treatment, the cultural specificity found in 12 step meetings, the disease model, the "hijacked" brain, physician recovery programs, prevention, and engagement in treatment.
