The Recovery Industry’s Policies Are Killing People and They Won’t Change Unless We Make Them

• By: Daniel Bahman Shad, MPA A Beautiful You
• July 29th, 2026
• addiction recovery, ASAM criteria, harm reduction, Medi-Cal, peer advocacy, recovery policy, substance use disorders, Summer 2026 Issue, trauma-informed care
• 248    0

The first time I watched the recovery system harm someone in real time, it was not a mistake. It was merciful advice in the face of restrictive policy. This person described how he voluntarily walked into a rehab facility after his last binge. He was not intoxicated. He was scared, exhausted,...