A Practical Manual for Moving from Fear to Loveby Paul Ferrini The Twelve Steps of Forgivenss offers us a process for unlearning our ego-based search for perfection and discovering the inner beauty, guidance and grace that already exist in our lives. It enables us to honor others and establish healthy boundaries that prevent manipulation and…
Intoxication and Its Aftermath By Leslie Jamison When Leslie Jamison was a student at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she fell in love with the myth of the alcoholic writer: the myth that liquor fed, not poisoned, great writing. By getting drunk in the same Iowa City bars as 20th-century alcoholic literary giants — John…
By Glenn C An early criticism of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was that its program of recovery was drawn primarily from the collective experiences of white men and thus unsuitable for people of color. Such declarations have since been challenged by surveys within communities of color indicating AA as one of the preferred choices for people…
By Maureen Cavanagh When Maureen Cavanagh, a hardworking small-business owner and resident of the charming, historic town of Marblehead, Mass., clicked on a link to a Salem News story headlined “Marblehead Honor Student Arrested for Prostitution,” her first thought was: “How sad. How very sad.” As she read further, however, her feelings turned to horror.…
by Bill White My relationships with White Bison founder Don Coyhis and with the Native American Wellbriety Movement are among the most important influences on my recovery advocacy and recovery research activities. I first met Don in the late 1990s as rumblings of a new addiction recovery advocacy movement in the United States were just…
Yoga of 12-Step Recovery: Teacher TrainingLearn how to support those in addiction recovery (and their loved ones) with a valuable resource for relapse prevention. Integrating the wisdom of yoga with the practical tools of 12-step methodology, Yoga of 12 Step Recovery provides a rich and powerful framework for reintegration with the self and with the…
BUTLER CENTER FOR RESEARCH NOVEMBER 2017 – RESEARCH UPDATEResearch Update is published by the Butler Center for Research to share significant scientific findings from the field of addiction treatment research. With all of the recent attention focused on the opioid crisis, it is easy to overlook the fact that misuse of alcohol continues to be…
When we’re on autopilot, we’re not thinking about what we’re doing or why we’re doing it. We’re not paying attention. Research shows that when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, living in autopilot mode can be a recipe for disaster. If you’re not tuned into why you’re doing what you’re doing, how can you…
Smart Recovery – A Different Step-based Recovery Program A secular recovery support group that uses evidence-based models. Self-management and recovery training (SMART) Recovery is a substance abuse rehabilitation program that serves as an alternative to traditional 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. 1 SMART Recovery is a program designed to help a person overcome self-defeating…
by Carol Wilke“I remember complaining to my first Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor that I didn’t get this “Cod thing.” I knew that step two of AA, “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity,” was an important part of staying sober, but I had no idea how to incorporate…