As heroin addiction among our youth continues to rise, residents of Long Island are beginning to see that an “anywhere but here” way of thinking creates a false sense of security. read more
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Category Archives: Addiction
More Troops in Afghanistan Means More Walking Wounded at Home
When President Obama issued orders this month to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, one priority was clear to me: We must prepare for the surge of veterans who will need substance abuse treatment when they come home. read more
Giving Thanks (for Recovery)
On Thanksgiving, as I sat at the table, stuffing myself with turkey and pumpkin pie, I thought what a miracle it was that I was there at all. I surveyed the room filled with loved ones—grateful that I was still alive and that I no longer needed to use. read more
When Mama Grabs the Bottle
Rachael Brownell is a mother, writer, and aspiring hippie living in the Pacific Northwest. Her first book, Mommy Doesn’t Drink Here Anymore, was published in August 2009. As our guest blogger, she highlights the pressures of motherhood today—and her journey “from cocktail mama to sober mama.”
People rarely ask me why I drank… read more
Mr. Aalund’s Opus: A Second Chance
Scott Aalund joined Phoenix Academy of Los Angeles as a teacher in 1997. After leaving to work in Head Start in 2002, he returned to Phoenix Academy in 2005, where he now teaches a special Day Class. Recently, he won the prestigious Teacher of the Year award from the Los Angeles County Office… read more
Treating Addiction Cuts Health Care Costs: Let's Put Our Money Where The Savings Are
The national debate on health care reform has overlooked an area of vast potential savings—the treatment of substance abuse. Untreated or under-treated substance abusers are world-class consumers of health care dollars; they are repeat customers, who crowd emergency rooms and overwhelm clinics.
A recent study by CASA, Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction… read more
My Own Joan of Arc
More than 15 years ago, Joan Hajjar was living on the edge. Homeless and without hope, her daily existence revolved around her next drug or drink. Determined to beat her addiction, she entered Phoenix House in 1993, where she found the tools to reclaim her life. Now serving as director of Phoenix House’s AmeriCorps… read more
DJ AM: Why He Went Too Far
When I learned about the death of DJ AM—the celebrity spinner who struggled with addiction, but stayed sober for over 11 years—I felt the tragedy at the gut level.
I have been in the substance abuse field for over 20 years, first as a treatment provider and then as a researcher. But it… read more
Coming Clean About “The Cleaner”
Back for a second season is A&E’s hit series “The Cleaner,” with Benjamin Bratt starring as an “extreme interventionist,” a character based on the life of the show’s co-executive producer Warren Boyd. What’s encouraging about “The Cleaner” is the exposure the series gives to drug misuse and the nature of addictive behavior… read more
The Silent Crisis
While the new Obama Administration has been focused – rightfully – on the financial crisis and the impact this is having on the average American, another crisis has been simmering, beneath the radar.
This crisis deserves equal attention because of its devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities. And because it is growing – in part… read more