Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing 2025’s posts with the most views. Today is #7. Some of us intend to do occasional reviews of some of William White's papers. Many of his most important papers are 25 years old, meaning a whole new generation of addiction professionals have entered the workforce since they … Continue reading 2025’s Top Posts – #7 – Relapse and burnout among recovering addiction professionals
Tag: Bill White
Relapse and burnout among recovering addiction professionals
Some of us intend to do occasional reviews of some of William White's papers. Many of his most important papers are 25 years old, meaning a whole new generation of addiction professionals have entered the workforce since they were published. Further, the volume of his work makes it overwhelming to approach. We will curate and … Continue reading Relapse and burnout among recovering addiction professionals
The adjacent possible and hope
I heard a radio show this morning about where ideas come from. They interviewed a guy who wrote a book and gave a TED talk on the topic. During the interview he discussed the concept of the adjacent possible and it's importance in forming new ideas. During the interview, he described it as the building … Continue reading The adjacent possible and hope
Bill White on “Symbolic Firsts”
Bill White had a very interesting post a while back on the concept of "symbolic firsts" and how it relates to recovery advocacy and recovery initiation. The concept is based on the idea that: . . . the pioneering achievement of a single individual from a historically marginalized group affects the self-identity, aspirations, and performance … Continue reading Bill White on “Symbolic Firsts”
Above criticism
Bill White on varieties of secular AA experiences. The ongoing evolution of A.A.'s story -- its history -- suggests that the fellowship will meet this challenge by finding ways to adapt to both religious renewal movements and cultural trends toward secularization without losing its essential character. But "suggest" is all that history can do. The … Continue reading Above criticism
Characteristics of the best treatment programs
In that Points interview, Bill White is asked about the treatment provider that he would choose for a loved one. I receive calls every day from people asking variations of these questions. There isn’t a universally “best program.” What we are looking for is the best match between the characteristics of a particular person at a … Continue reading Characteristics of the best treatment programs
sustained guidance into full cultural participation
I've posted recently on the role of class in addiction, policy, treatment and recovery. Here are a couple of sentences from Bill White on the topic. Those individuals needing professionally directed addiction treatment suffer from more than a singular, encapsulated problem with alcohol or other drugs. Need for addiction treatment—particularly prolonged or repeated treatment—is often a proxy … Continue reading sustained guidance into full cultural participation
The hardiness of AA
Bill White and Ernie Kurtz examine the factors contributing to AA's resilience in the face of steady attacks Attacking Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and 12-step oriented addiction treatment has become a specialized industry with its own genre of literature, celebrity authors and speakers, single-focus websites, and promoted alternatives. Collectively, these critics suggest that A.A. is an anachronism … Continue reading The hardiness of AA
Recovery Checkups
Bill White on efforts to develop and implement recovery check-up protocols: There is one sentence in the Standards that deserves particular acknowledgement: "Recovery check-ups by addiction specialist physicians, just as those by primary care physicians or other providers, may promote sustained recovery and prevent relapse" (p. 13). . . . The "recovery check-up" language marks … Continue reading Recovery Checkups
“narrative truth”
This reminded me of something from Bill White. At the heart of Perry’s argument — in line with neurologist Oliver Sacks’s recent meditation on memory and how “narrative truth,” rather than “historical truth,” shapes our impression of the world — is the recognition that stories make us human and learning to reframe our interpretations of reality is key to our experience … Continue reading “narrative truth”
Recovery Review 