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The Recovery Industry’s Policies Are Killing People and They Won’t Change Unless We Make Them
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,...
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Recovery Policies Consistently Fail When They Ignore Human Behavior
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...
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Transforming Crisis Response: Direct EMS Radio Access for Peer Support Teams in Marion County
Behavioral health crises require rapid response, specialized support, and seamless coordination across emergency systems to minimize unwanted outcomes. Yet, in many communities, traditional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workflows delay behavioral health intervention until after transport or...
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Substance Use Disorders: Supporting Individuals in Early Recovery Through Peer-Led Services
The first days and weeks of recovery from a substance use disorder are among the most precarious in any individual’s health journey. Detoxification has been completed, the immediate crisis has passed, and now the real work begins: rebuilding a life without substances. Yet this is precisely when...
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NIH Researchers Discover Pain-Relieving Drug with Minimal Addictive Properties
Positive safety profile of novel drug compound is surprise for class of synthetic opioids shelved years ago. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a novel, highly potent opioid that shows potential as a therapy for both pain and opioid use disorder. In a study...
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Recovery Works When Coverage Does: The Lifesaving Impact of Medicare’s IOP Expansion
Closing a Critical Coverage Gap in Medicare In 2024, following stalwart efforts by Congress, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, providers, advocacy organizations, and directly-impacted communities alike, Medicare closed a gap in its addiction treatment coverage by adding a benefit...
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Addiction, Treatment, and the Evolution of Therapeutic Communities: The Legacy of Dr. David A. Deitch
David A. Deitch, PhD, is one of the most influential figures in the modern history of addiction treatment. A clinical and social psychologist, he currently holds the title of Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, where he founded the Center for...
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Relapse Is Part of Recovery, Shame Shouldn’t Be: What I Wish More Families Understood
When someone returns to treatment after a relapse, it’s often with a heavy heart. They walk through our doors carrying the weight of shame, disappointment, and fear of judgment, not just from others, but from themselves. Families often ask, “what went wrong,” and wonder why their loved one...
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Expanding Perinatal Mental Health Care in NYC: Advancing Equity and Family Well-Being
Perinatal mental health—the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals during pregnancy and the postpartum period—is a growing public health concern. In New York City, behavioral health conditions are among the leading underlying causes of pregnancy-related deaths. According...
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The Overlap of Substance Use Disorders and Suicide: Key Insights and Intervention Strategies
Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) coupled with suicide are a critical dual concern that has severe implications for the public health of the entire world. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) also reports that people with SUDs are more prone to suicide, with statistics showing that their risk...
