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,...

Recovery Policies Consistently Fail When They Ignore Human Behavior

• By: Hannah Power Victory Recovery Partners
• July 29th, 2026
• behavioral health, harm reduction, person-centered care, recovery policy, recovery programs, relapse, substance use disorders, Summer 2026 Issue, trauma-informed care
• 241    0

Recovery policies don't fail because people don't want to change; they fail because they're designed for an idealized version of patients that simply doesn't exist. Policies are built in committee rooms, around rational decision-making, clear consequences, and personal responsibility. However, the...