What’s essential for recovery to happen?

~ Dr David McCartney ~ 2 Comments

I would tell them straight, recovery does not happen in isolation Recovery group member We know mutual aid works to help people with substance use disorders achieve their goals. The recent Cochrane Review[1], which analysed the evidence for Alcoholics Anonymous reported pretty impressive results. John F Kelly, Keith Humphreys and Marica Ferri “determined that AA was … Continue reading What’s essential for recovery to happen?

Is the impact of lived experience ‘fake news’?

~ Dr David McCartney ~ 1 Comment

The pandemic’s been tough. The repercussions have focussed the minds of researchers Louise Byrne and Til Wykes[1]. Writing in the Journal of Mental Health (open access), they make the point that given the pandemic challenges, there has never been ‘a greater opportunity to stop pathologising the emotional experiences of human beings and start connecting over commonality, sharing … Continue reading Is the impact of lived experience ‘fake news’?

The Piper Must be Paid, Sooner or Later

~ billstaufferpa

America has been using more substance during the COVID-19 pandemic, a result of increased stress and isolation. We are starting to glimpse the repercussions of these dynamics. There is early evidence of the consequences of heavier use across our society. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that hospitals affiliated with the University of Michigan, Northwestern … Continue reading The Piper Must be Paid, Sooner or Later

Recovery-focused interventions: too messy to study?

~ Dr David McCartney ~ 2 Comments

“Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted.”Albert Einstein These last few weeks I've seen several people writing on the subject of substance use disorder treatment calling for us 'to stick with the evidence' of what works. Research evidence should, quite rightly, inform policy and practice. There's an … Continue reading Recovery-focused interventions: too messy to study?

The Four Pests: recovery, sobriety/abstinence, addiction illness, and treatment

~ Brian Coon ~ 2 Comments

It seems that during recent years, within the substance use disorder arena, there has been a trend toward changing views about: substance use, sobriety, abstinence, the harms of use, harm reduction, recovery, pathways of personal improvement, problematic use, and addiction illness itself.  While advancements, improvements, and innovations are welcome, what should be preserved?  And how … Continue reading The Four Pests: recovery, sobriety/abstinence, addiction illness, and treatment

Research Article Review: Buprenorphine for Severe Suicidal Ideation

~ Brian Coon

This post will consist of an overview of one particular research report, and some of my thoughts about it.  Here is the citation of the paper I’ll be discussing: Yovell, Y., Bar, G., Mashiah, M., Baruch, Y., Briskman, I., Asherov, J., Lotan, A., Rigbi, A. & Panksepp, J.  (2016).  Ultra-Low-Dose Buprenorphine as a Time-Limited Treatment … Continue reading Research Article Review: Buprenorphine for Severe Suicidal Ideation

“Throw Flour On the Invisible Man”: Toward locating recovery function and assessing recovery quality

~ Brian Coon

Can the presence of recovery, or the level of recovery function, be somehow detectable when it is unspoken and not overtly displayed? Can recovery be intuitively recognized or somehow felt in another person? Can recovery be intuitively recognized within an interpersonal space? Can recovery be present and sensed in the atmosphere? Sixth-sense, Spidey-sense, Radar When you walk into a room, do you ever pick up on any … Continue reading “Throw Flour On the Invisible Man”: Toward locating recovery function and assessing recovery quality