Every Stick Has Two Ends – A Discourse on the Consequences of Drug Use Normalization

~ billstaufferpa ~ 3 Comments

Recently, the founder of Recovery Review Jason Schwartz penned an important piece on the polarization of current drug policy, Protecting autonomy by denying it? Undermining autonomy by asserting it? He notes that at one pole, multiple states are proposing and passing legislation to allow involuntary treatment. At the other pole, normalization advocates framing drug use … Continue reading Every Stick Has Two Ends – A Discourse on the Consequences of Drug Use Normalization

More on differing compensation and expectations in the peer recovery workforce.

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 1 Comment

Yesterday, Austin shared a post about inequities in compensation for peer recovery specialists. He closed with this thought. If we agree that, at least in this sphere of recovery, such inherent exploitation is contradictory to the overarching aim of recovery systems, then each of us must make a specific and deliberate stand to prevent the … Continue reading More on differing compensation and expectations in the peer recovery workforce.

The Age Old Story – Differing Compensations, Differing Expectation in Peer Recovery Workforces – A Review of Alavi et al., 2023

~ Dr. Austin McNeill Brown, MSW, PhD ~ 2 Comments

Qualitative studies are essential to understanding the field of addiction and recovery precisely because whether one is talking about the misery of addiction, the liberation of recovery, or the dynamics and experience of those working in the field - at the heart of the field is the question of experiential knowledge and personal accounts of … Continue reading The Age Old Story – Differing Compensations, Differing Expectation in Peer Recovery Workforces – A Review of Alavi et al., 2023

Substance use disorder is too inclusive to be useful

~ Jason Schwartz

Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: A companion infographic (SAMHSA Publication No. PEP23-07-01-007). Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2022-nsduh-infographic The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was recently released and … Continue reading Substance use disorder is too inclusive to be useful

Protecting autonomy by denying it? Undermining autonomy by asserting it?

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 4 Comments

I started working as an addiction counselor in 1994 and I cannot recall any time since then that has been characterized by such polarization in the responses being proposed and implemented. At one pole, multiple states are proposing and passing legislation to allow for involuntary treatment. We've long had mandated treatment in criminal courts, but … Continue reading Protecting autonomy by denying it? Undermining autonomy by asserting it?

The 3 Ripple Effects of Harm Reductions’ Historical Exclusion from the Addiction Continuum of Care

~ Alexandra Plante

Digging into the consequences that the historical exclusion of drug-related harm reduction has had on those with and at-risk for substance use disorder in America. The U.S. approach to substance use disorders has historically been marked by a conspicuous gap: the exclusion of harm reduction from its continuum of care. This omission has set into … Continue reading The 3 Ripple Effects of Harm Reductions’ Historical Exclusion from the Addiction Continuum of Care

Restoring American Community – Recovery Community as a Catalyst 

~ billstaufferpa

“Let us use whatever power and influence we have, working with whatever resources are already available, mobilizing the people who are with us to work for what they care about.” – Margaret Wheatley We are losing community and connection with each other across our nation. It is a key driver of drug use. People cope … Continue reading Restoring American Community – Recovery Community as a Catalyst 

From the Sidelines to Center Stage: Harm Reduction’s Entry into the Continuum of Care

~ Alexandra Plante

There is a private club, known only as the “Substance Use Continuum of Care.” Membership in the club is by invitation only, and all addiction interventions in the club are legal and have federal funding. You want to be in the club, but like with any exclusive club, there are rules for members and strings … Continue reading From the Sidelines to Center Stage: Harm Reduction’s Entry into the Continuum of Care

Cerebral Hypoxia & the “Opioid Epidemic” – An Elephant in the Room

~ billstaufferpa

Addiction is a vexing challenge in our society. One it is prudent to look at what is not being spoken about, perhaps with as much or more focus than what is getting attention. Where are the proverbial elephants in the room?  Cerebral Hypoxia and related brain injury associated with overdoses is one of those elephants … Continue reading Cerebral Hypoxia & the “Opioid Epidemic” – An Elephant in the Room