We take automobiles in for the lifetime of the vehicle. We have structural systems set up for vehicle care with no appointment necessary, and expert technicians with the knowledge of what to look for at that point in time, at that number of miles, at that appointment. We know the appointment will not take long, … Continue reading Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 5: “CARE FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE”
Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 4: WHAT SHOULD IMPROVE, AND WHEN?
Consider these indicators: Total lung capacity?Inspiratory and expiratory volume (breath)?Dopamine production and function?Cognition and neurocognitive impairments?Abscesses and skin?Return of taste and smell?Gait, balance, strength?Anxiety, sleep, pain, wellbeing?Hope and self-efficacy. Are patients served by addiction professionals getting better, or not? I have been speaking rather frequently and thoroughly with someone about this basic idea. This person … Continue reading Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 4: WHAT SHOULD IMPROVE, AND WHEN?
Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 3: A CLEAR IMAGE
I have been asked to represent the idea of Stages of Healing in the form of a picture diagram. This is the image I am currently using. What I mean to represent here is a (large/representative) norm-reference group of 10,000 people or more. This group would be evaluated prospectively across biological, psychological, social, and spiritual … Continue reading Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 3: A CLEAR IMAGE
Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 2: GETTING WELL IS LONG; MEASURING IS SHORT
Both problematic substance use and substance use disorders vary overall, and they vary widely – in terms of whether they present or not, and in their severity. But something that is clearly understood is addiction illness. Even though the current DSM (DSM-5) describes addiction illness in the narrative text fairly succinctly and sufficiently, and even … Continue reading Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 2: GETTING WELL IS LONG; MEASURING IS SHORT
Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 1: OVERVIEW
Addiction and the Stages of Healing is the name I have given to an idea that occurred to me after many years of consideration. This series is meant to serve as my way of walking you through the idea. In short, I would like to suggest it would be helpful to have perhaps 10,000 or … Continue reading Addiction and the Stages of Healing, Part 1: OVERVIEW
Addiction and the Stages of Healing
Over the next several days I’ll be posting on a topic I have titled “Addiction and the Stages of Healing”. The plan is for 11 posts to cover 13 areas of my original writing. References and suggested readings will also be shared. I formulated this concept in the Fall of 2017 and completed building a … Continue reading Addiction and the Stages of Healing
Gratitude, the Brain and Recovery
grat·i·tude /ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/ noun - the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. It is a great day for a post on gratitude – and first, thank you for reading this post and being involved in whatever you do to support recovery efforts in your community, I am grateful for … Continue reading Gratitude, the Brain and Recovery
Follow-up on seeking more, not less
A friend responded to my recent post on Bill White's paper on MAT and noted that I did not distinguish between OTPs (Opioid Treatment Programs) and OBOT (Office-Based Opioid Treatment). He pointed to the oversight and more comprehensive nature of OTPs vs OBOTs, adding that there will be significant variation in retention and other outcomes … Continue reading Follow-up on seeking more, not less
Family Recovery
I was reminded of how important it is to ensure the family members of patients/clients with addictions realise that they need to recover too. This blog by a doctor on the British Medical Journal's website captures the harrowing sense of loss as a partner's alcohol dependence takes hold and then the dawning of hope as … Continue reading Family Recovery
Low expectation treatment for OUDs will yield poor outcomes over the long term
photo - Death Valley in bloom Currently, there is a lot of discussion about treatment for opioid use disorders. Here in Pennsylvania part of our policy discourse is on the prescribing of MAT such as suboxone and whether there should be some requirement to include treatment with the prescribing of the medication. Missing in most … Continue reading Low expectation treatment for OUDs will yield poor outcomes over the long term
Recovery Review 