by Kelly O’Rourke Johns I drive through the quaint St. Paul, Minn., neighborhood withhardly a glance at the stately old homes that line the street or the moss-covered buildings of Macalester College. I can feel my chest constrict with stress and my neck stiffen as my thoughts race through several heavy worries—an ill friend, a diabetic uncle, fin- ancial…
by Steven Diogo Buzz Aldrin the Icon and Buzz Aldrin the Man are two very different creatures. The icon laughs at death, rides wild rockets like bucking broncos and contem- plates the mysteries of life in the wondrous cosmos outside his Apollo window. The man focuses on mission, procedure and detail. He is a military man and engineer.…
Reconciling spirituality and recoveryby Steven Diogo Despite what is presented as a wide view of spirituality in Twelve Step programs—with a focus on developing one’s own concept of a higher power—many still chafe at any mention of God, higher power or any entity that is not grounded in the physical plane. For these people, it is…
by Ken PomeranceChief Operating OfficerInTheRooms.com The 11th Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous states, “Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.” How does anonymity fit into present day recovery in the era of social networks?When I…
Among the many ways that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous helps its members stay sober, two appear to be most important – spending more time with individuals who support efforts towards sobriety and increased confidence in the ability to maintain abstinence in social situations. Social contacts, self-confidence crucial to successful recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous Among the…
by Rachael Rettner For more than 100 years, alcoholism has been viewed as a disease; however, this framing has created barriers to diagnosing, treating and even understanding the condition, one psychologist argues. “By adhering so strictly to the disease model…I think that we miss the opportunity to frame alcoholism in ways that could help some…
by Richard RidderinkhofProfessor of Neurocognitive Development and AgingUniversity of AmsterdamOctober 8, 2011 Evidence shows that heavy alcohol use modifies the structure and physiology of the brain, although the extent of recovery after years of abstinence is unclear. Recent neuroimaging studies have revealed that chronic alcoholism can damage the cerebellum, which plays an important role in…
A new study of teens undergoing substance abuse treatment finds helping others helps the adolescent helper by reducing cravings for alcohol and drugs, a major precipitator of relapse. These novel findings stem from the “Helping Others” study led by Maria Pagano, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Results…
Influence of Religiosity on 12-Step Participation and Treatment Response Among Substance-Dependent Adolescents by John F. Kelly, Maria E. Pagano, Robert L. Stout, Shannon M. Johnson Objective: Religious practices among adults are associated with more 12-step participation which, in turn, is linked to better treatment outcomes. Despite recommendations for adolescents to participate in mutual-help groups, little is…
The Christmas Season is a magical and special time for millions of people world-wide. We each have our unique version of storied memories of lights, food, music, sacred ritual and festive gatherings of friends and family. All seemingly gathered around a central birth narrative. Yet, this narrative too has its versions and unique interpretations through…