by Alice G. Walton, ContributorFORBESWOMAN | 2/06/2012 Addiction is one of the most common mental health problems there is: Drug use alone affects tens of millions of Americans, and that’s only the illegal ones. Even more people deal with addictions to other things – alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, food, and various behaviors. People who are familiar…
by Davee Chandler, LCSW Most people are familiar with the 12 Steps as a program, or have at least heard of them. Many, however, are woefully misinformed about 12 Step programs, particularly as they relate to the process of recovery. Unfortunately, this is the case in the professional community and even in the recovery community.…
By Janene HeldmanUnlike many of the helping professionals in the substance addiction field, I am not a recovering addict. I have, however, lived in the realm of addiction for the last 11 years. I am a psychotherapist who has treated many clients with addictions. More important, my son, Justin, was a methamphetamine addict. Justin became addicted upon…
By Dr. Tom McLellanThe Partnership@Drugfree.orgMarch 23, 2012 Substance abuse permeates nearly every aspect of our society, but it is not intractable nor is it inevitable. Research has contributed much knowledge over the decades to smarter prevention of addiction, more efficient early interventions, better and more sustained treatment outcomes, and wiser policies. Now it’s time for…
David E. Smith, M.D.; Millicent E. Buxton; Rafiq Bilal; Richard Seymour, M.A. One of the most important collaborations for the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics (HAFC) relative to inner-city drug abuse treatment programs is the association of HAFC and Glide Memorial Methodist Church, headed by the Reverend Cecil Williams. Reverend Williams (1992) has described the Glide…
Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous seem to work as well in teens as in adults, study finds HealthDay News — Teens undergoing treatment for alcohol or drug abuse can benefit from the 12-step program used by groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), researchers say. While these programs are widely available, little research…
By William White, Chris Budnick, Boyd Pickard Betty T. left treatment at the Narcotic Farm in 1950 and shortly thereafter began correspondence with Houston S., Danny C., and AA co-founder Bill W. about her interest in starting a support group meeting for addicts in Los Angeles. Betty, a nurse, was addicted to narcotics and then…
By Celia Vimont Twelve-step programs can be extremely helpful for teens who are struggling with addiction or who are on the road to becoming addicted, but they are more useful if they are adapted to the particular needs of adolescents, according to an expert on teenage addiction. “These programs were developed for adults, and teenagers…
By: Allan J. Hamilton, MD Why is the smartest, most adaptable creature on the planet hardwired to stop talking, lose its sense of self, and feel at one with the world — in a profound state of listening? The answer — from the deep roots of Earth religions — could not only save your life…
by John F. Seery, MSCRC, CCDP Diplomat The purpose of this article is to present information on how the recovery of the co-occurring population is ameliorated by their attendance in 12-step support groups. According to Geppert and Minkoff (2003): “When someone has a substance-related disorder and another psychiatric illness, they are said to have co-occurring…