Why You Need A Doctor For Addiction Treatment –
Imagine being told that you have a progressively debilitating and potentially fatal medical disorder. It’s widely recognized in the research community as a brain disease. Then you learn that physicians or other medical personnel will NOT be involved in the assessment, diagnosis, acute treatment, or continued monitoring of your condition. Even worse, imagine that many […]
Addiction Stigma And Discrimination
I regularly receive emails and phone calls that poignantly illuminate the stigma and discrimination people can face as they make the journey through addiction to recovery and a life of purpose and meaning. Drug warrior ideologues have employed manipulative rhetoric and caricatured images of people experiencing alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems for political, professional, […]
Breaking Down Denial
From Cameron Gamso: “Do you want to be free from this addiction? Are you sure?” Obviously I was ready. I’d been meeting with my counselor for three months, but she saw what I couldn’t. I was still in denial. I said, “Yes I want freedom,” but what I meant was, “I know that’s what I […]
What To Expect In An Al-Anon Meeting
Seven years ago, when I first entertained the idea of going to a meeting, I was scared and confused. Was Al-Anon another way to abbreviate Alcoholics Anonymous? Would it really help? As if anything could. Over the next few years, I found more reasons to not go to Al-Anon until one day I finally went, […]
Treatment Center Referral? Do This First –
Just because a treatment center referral sounds good, you still have to check it out. If you have been referred to a substance abuse treatment center, there are things you need to do to ensure your safety or the safety of your loved one. First, consider any referrals from friends, your physician, an online website, […]
Staying Safe From Patient Brokering
Bodies for dollars is a lucrative way for treatment centers to fill beds, but it’s against the law and dangerous for patients. Patient brokering occurs online, over the phone, through text messages, and in person. The patients may think they are being referred to a good center or home by someone who understands what they […]