Interview #10 William Cope Moyers – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

~ billstaufferpa

Forward: We have a long and rich history of recovery in America. It is vital to understand the effort that has gone into providing avenues into recovery. It has taken an incredible effort over many generations to get us as far as we are in respect to eliminating disparate care and discrimination, improving access to … Continue reading Interview #10 William Cope Moyers – Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

We All Need to Learn “Prevention”

~ Brian Coon ~ 2 Comments

Prevention of substance use is probably more important than ever.  And the relevance of prevention across the lifespan (including among those who have already initiated use) has probably never been more important.  Why would I say that?  The purity and potency of substances have increased so much that preventing even a one-time use of certain … Continue reading We All Need to Learn “Prevention”

Sentences to ponder

~ Chris Budnick

Service in the absence of self-care is an act of self-destruction. Focusing on the self in the absence of service sustains the narcissistic self-encapsulation that is the very hallmark of addiction. Ironically, we must tend to self to serve others and serve others to escape entrapment within the self. Balancing self-care and service to others … Continue reading Sentences to ponder

How should we respond to co-occurring addiction and racism? (Guest post by Alexa Johnson)

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 2 Comments

Alexa Johnson is a friend who is early in her career and reached out for my thoughts on some important questions she had been contemplating. She shared a written reflection on the issues involved and I encouraged her to turn it into a post. I admire her combination of conviction and willingness to keep asking … Continue reading How should we respond to co-occurring addiction and racism? (Guest post by Alexa Johnson)

Interview #9 – Bev Haberle Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

~ billstaufferpa

Forward: I have known Bev Haberle and her work for a long time. We are both from Eastern Pennsylvania and our paths crossed regularly over the years. I brought her staff into the residential facility I ran in the early 2000s to meet and engage our alumni. Bev served for many years as the Executive … Continue reading Interview #9 – Bev Haberle Reflections on the Historic 2001 Recovery Summit in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Start of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

Tackling drug deaths: let’s add this in

~ Dr David McCartney

Healthy social networks (the people we connect with) are protective. Improving social networks brings gains in physical and mental health. In 2010, Julianne Holt-Lunstad and her colleagues undertook an impressive meta-analysis (massive review of the evidence available) to see how social relationships influenced mortality. They found a protective effect for those with stronger social relationships. In fact, for this group there was a 50% increased likelihood of survival.

Drug deaths in Scotland: hope on the horizon?

~ Dr David McCartney

Harm reduction interventions need to be widely available, accessible, delivered efficiently and proactively and evaluated and improved. Harm reduction services also need to have porous borders with treatment and recovery services and have hope embedded in the form of peers in recovery working within teams. A recovery-oriented system of care sees interventions not in silos, but in a continuum with the individual’s needs at the centre and the person on a journey. The person's goals, not the professional's goals (which can be at odds) should be paramount.