Welcome to Rising Above Addiction
With Rising Above Addiction, we'll provide thoughtful commentary on addiction-related issues from industry leaders and members of the recovery community.
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For veterans struggling with substance abuse, treatment is not a luxury, but a necessity. These people are dedicated to serving our country – providing them with accessible, affordable, effective treatment is the least our country can do in return. read more
Giving up coke? Getting sober? More marijuana? A lot of crack? Do we know what is actually happening with substance abuse on Wall Street today? The Journal doesn’t have a straight answer, so they seem content to mash together a few opinions and “statistics” and present them as truth. read more
At our Phoenix House adult residential program in Florida, prescription opiate abuse now accounts for 95% of admission calls. So on Monday, I was grateful that a Tampa Tribune story brought greater attention to the issue. read more
In his searing op-ed, Johnson, chair of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences at the University of Virginia, argues that there is little empirical evidence to suggest that substance abuse treatment programs are effective. I take issue with these charges. read more
Lindsay Lohan no longer has Robert Shapiro in her corner, but what she really needs is a “dream team” of a different sort. I’m not talking about agents or PR reps who could remake her image. I’m referring to a dedicated team of treatment professionals and other recovery supporters who could help her get back on track. read more
Earlier this week, I saw Winter’s Bone, a chilling film that chronicles a teenage girl’s search for her missing father in the bucolic, yet hostile world of the Missouri Ozarks. While the film, which won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Festival, is ultimately about perseverance in the face of incredible odds, it is difficult to separate the narrative from the meth-ravaged landscape in which it unfolds. read more
While teens’ reasons for trying heroin are diverse, one element of their addiction stories remains consistent: heroin isn’t just a drug for them. It is a culture, a lifestyle, a full time job—from buying it, to ingesting it, to financially supporting the growing quantity. It’s the first thing they think about when they wake up and the last thing they think about before they fall asleep. read more
Although heroin use in general has declined or leveled off in many areas, the rate of heroin use among teens has increased dramatically—especially in the suburbs. And they’re not the kids you’d expect. read more
Last week, I was moved by Clinton McCracken’s brave essay in The Journal of the American Medical Association. His courageous piece hit me on a gut level, not only as a fellow researcher in the field of addiction, but also, as a person in long-term recovery who must constantly remind herself not to approach her illness intellectually. read more
Last week’s People magazine cover featured the beautiful University of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love, who died when her ex-boyfriend, George Huguely, reportedly hit her head against a wall in a fit of rage. When reports of the killing surfaced earlier this month, the media quickly latched onto a possible connection between Yeardley’s death and George’s history of bad-boy behavior, namely his heavy drinking. read more