By William White, M.A. and Ernest Kurtz, Ph.D. One of the central messages of the New Recovery Advocacy Movement is the declaration that there are many pathways and styles of long-term recovery from severe alcohol and other drug problems. This message is of historical note, but it is not surprising. The recovery advocates who have […]
By Steve K. As a member of a 12-Step fellowship I’m aware of the ongoing debate in relation to using the terms “recovered” vs “recovering” alcoholic or addict. Ultimately, how someone describes themselves is a personal matter of preference and relates to their self-perception. I also think that how they interpret the above terms dictates […]
By Katie MacBride. In 1979, Bruce Alexander, a researcher at Simon Fraser University, separated rats into two cages, a stimulating one and an isolated one, and gave them morphine in order to measure the effect of environment on addiction rates. The so-called “Rat Park” experiment was intended to debunk some of the flawed understanding around […]
By William L White. A talk given at the NorthEast Treatment Centers (NET) in Philadelphia, PA celebrating its recovery services at its 40th Anniversary, April 14, 2010. Many of us in this room know that addiction is contagious. Addiction was not a purpose we set out to achieve. We grew up in a world that castigated people […]
By Steve K. In the field of addiction studies there is an ongoing debate in relation to how much voluntary choice is involved in addiction to alcohol and other drugs. During a recovery group discussion meeting that I attended recently different viewpoints were expressed in relation to this topic. The majority of the people involved […]
By Steve K. Human beings have evolved with inherent needs for physical, psychological, emotional, social, and many would suggest, spiritual connection. If these needs are unmet, neglected, or abused in the developmental years of childhood and adolescence they often result in lifelong difficulties with intrapersonal (within self), interpersonal (with others), and transpersonal (beyond the self) […]
By Steve K. I’ve heard it said in AA meetings that “the opposite of addiction is connection.” A phrase popularised in recent years by the writer and journalist Johann Hari. Thinking about my own experience of addiction and recovery I wholeheartedly agree with Hari’s assertion – connection is certainly a key antidote to the underlying […]
By Steve K. In the chapter “We Agnostics” in the book ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ (aka Big Book), it suggests that agnostics and atheists can often struggle with the concept of God; due to “a particular idea” with which they were conditioned with during childhood. “Perhaps we rejected this particular conception because it seemed inadequate. With that […]
By Steve K. The following two articles are in relation to the nature of emotional growth and sobriety. They can be used as a helpful reference point for those in recovery from addiction interested in the process of growth and change. The first is by Clinical and Transpersonal Psychologist Ingrid Clayton Ph.D. in relation to […]
By Steve K. I recently attended a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in which the group secretary criticised group members for “too much cross-sharing.” She was referring to group members’ sharing supportively towards a member of the group who’d recently experienced a relapse and was clearly feeling distressed and ashamed of themselves. The sharing was […]
By Steve K. One of the many platitudes heard in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is “that you cannot get recovery by osmosis.” I disagree with this glib statement in certain respects. Apart from its meaning relating to biology/chemistry the term osmosis is commonly used to describe the ‘gradual or unconscious assimilation of ideas, […]
By William L White. It is difficult to pick up a book advocating or attacking the disease concept of alcoholism without having Alcoholics Anonymous credited as the source of the modern disease concept of alcoholism. Yet considerable evidence challenges this popular belief. When AA co-founder Bill Wilson was asked in 1960 about AA’s position on […]
By Steve K. As someone who’s in long-term recovery from alcohol and drug dependency I’ve often reflected upon the various causal factors associated with addiction and what these suggest in terms of successful recovery. There seems to be many diverse opinions, often polarising voices, in relation to the causes, nature and treatment of addiction. There […]
By Steve K. Throughout my recovery I’ve struggled with cultivating an attitude of gratitude towards my life and circumstances. I have suffered with a depressive condition and physical health difficulties all my adult life, which have greatly influenced my viewpoint or ‘frame of reference’. I’m a long-term member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and find it […]
By Steve K. The literature of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) suggests that alcoholism is an illness of the mind, body and soul; and that by healing spiritually the alcoholic will heal mentally and bodily as well. I would also like to suggest that the alcoholic heals emotionally, and contentiously, morally, as part of the recovery process. […]
By Steve K. There is a common myth in recovery circles, often perpetuated by the literal interpretation of the literature, that long term sobriety equals a life of being “happy, joyous and free.” However, the reality of “life on life’s terms” often brings with it suffering and adversity and the related negative impact in terms […]
By Ingrid Mathieu, Ph.D. Is recovery in today’s AA supportive of cultivating a personal and authentic identity or in some way limiting these? Is a person’s recovery allowing the full breadth of human experience or is a bypass occurring that precludes some of the earthier nuances that might play a key role in someone’s life? […]
