Most people can tell you what a trigger is and can provide examples of triggers, but very few can tell you what makes a trigger a trigger. In fact, many in our profession will teach patients how to identify triggers, but do not explain the mechanics behind it. If we don’t know what makes a [...]

Once upon a time there were “drug addicts.” Drug addicts were sleazy, desperate characters we only saw in film noir double features – black-and-white sub-creatures who skulked around in dark alleys waiting for a “fix.” Men with golden arms, mainliners, intravenous heroin slammers; they had monkeys on their backs. But today’s New Age Addict is [...]

As a professional in the field of recovery or a recovering addict, have you found that traditional methods regarding recovery don’t always suit your client’s needs? This is not to say that traditional 12-Step methods are not worthwhile, for that is not the case. In fact, the 12-Steps are usually the first place I go [...]

Introduction: Setting the Stage — The Era of Medication-Assisted Treatment More than 50 million Americans are currently living with chronic pain unrelated to cancer. The costs associated with chronic pain are approximately 90 billion dollars annually. During the last two decades of the 20th century, there has been increased interest in support of fundamentally changing [...]

When I was asked to write this article about Buprenorphine, I thought, “There is so much out there on the subject. Don’t you want me to write about something new and different?” But the suggestion came that I approach the drug from a unique standpoint. So let’s tackle the problem about the patients who have [...]

Dialectical Behavior Therapy — or as it is most commonly known, DBT — has become an acclaimed, evidence-based therapy for individuals struggling with a co-occurring disorders. The evidence to support the use of DBT in substance dependence treatment is growing and recognized by prominent authorities in the field, such as SAMHSA (2008 Science and Service [...]

The article that follows is an excerpt from my book, A Rational Workbook for Recovery From Addictions – Second Edition. After I lay a foundation of understanding for a client that includes Albert Ellis’ ABCs, I begin applying cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) skills and techniques to help a client make changes in feelings and behaviors. One [...]