The Value of Advocating for Safer (But Not Reduced) Substance Use By Tom Horvath, PhD In a study recently published online, researchers at Brown University (a major US addiction research site) compared an intervention to reduce the drinking of heavy drinking college students (without focusing on the consequences of drinking), with an intervention to reduce the negative consequences from drinking (without focusing on the amount of drinking). Both interventions worked as predicted. The first group (PNF; Personalized Normative Feedback) reduced drinking (without reducing consequences) and the second group (CAA; Counter-Attitudinal Advocacy) reduced consequences (without reducing drinking). The subjects were 585 students who by self-report engaged in episodes of heavy drinking and ...

By Tom Horvath, PhD SMART’s 3rd edition Handbook lasted about 12 years. Because SMART is committed to staying current with scientific advances, it was time for an update. The first update is the title: SMART Recovery 4-Point Program Handbook.  SMART now considers itself to offer three programs (or services): 4-Point Program meetings (for individuals with addictive problems), Family and Friends meetings (for their loved ones), and the Multiple Pathways Partnership (for organizations that want to support SMART and the concept of “multiple pathways for change”). The Handbook simplifies the language of the 3rd edition, removes some acronyms by renaming some tools (also in service of simplifying the language), adds some tools (particularly ones that reflect third wave CBT), emphasiz...

Neuronal Plasticity, Mindfulness Meditation, and Addiction Recovery by Nicholas A. Nelson, Ph.D. Part 2 of 2 In Part 1, we visited the motivations for leveraging mindfulness as a tool for overcoming problematic addictive behaviors. We discussed the concept of neuroplasticity and took a theoretical look at how mindfulness meditation can aid in reshaping our brain and behavior during addiction recovery. In Part 2 we’ll take a look at a few specific scientific studies that have put these theories to the test, then wrap up with a discussion of what mindfulness meditation can feel like in practice. Let’s dive in. The Frontal Lobe Because the neuroscience of addiction and neuroscience of meditation are rather complex and relatively new topics, they are still undergoing rapid...

By Tom Horvath, PhD In the state of California, a licensed residential substance use treatment facility (a “rehab”) needs to provide 20 hours of treatment per week. Typically, this treatment is provided in groups. In many rehabs there is only one individual session per week, the minimum required by law. The groups in a rehab have significant similarities with SMART Recovery meetings, particularly if a SMART participant talks about their specific goals and challenges. If someone were primarily interested in the treatment aspect of being in a rehab, 20 SMART meetings per week would be a reasonable alternative to residential treatment. To make the best use of SMART meetings the participant would benefit from having an individual session a week, just like in the rehab. The individu...

By Tom Horvath, PhD Mutual help groups for addictive problems have been in existence for centuries. No one knows exactly how they work. What follows is my best estimate of what happens in SMART Recovery meetings, and how they help. How SMART Recovery Works SMART offers an approach that will appeal to many (for either substance problems, activity problems, or both) because it is self-empowering, science based, progress-oriented, and holistic. Other mutual help approaches will appeal to other people. Some people may use multiple approaches. In 1994, when SMART Recovery began operating under that name, SMART elected to move beyond specific tools (which had been prominent in its pre-history) by identifying 4 common tasks for the process of addressing an addictive problem, the 4 Poin...

Neuronal Plasticity, Mindfulness Meditation, and Addiction Recovery by Nicholas A. Nelson, Ph.D. Part 1 of 2 It is not uncommon during active addiction or early in recovery for people to feel that their brain is working somehow differently than before, or to feel like it is going to be impossible to break out of harmful habits and thought patterns. It can feel like the mind is damaged, or operating out of our control. This lack of control, and feeling that something is broken, can lead to a sense of hopelessness. When we look at the brain there is some truth to this feeling - during engagement with problematic addictive behaviors and during early recovery, our brains are not wired in the same way as before these problems took root. Through months, years, or decades of repetiti...

By Tom Horvath, PhD Although the following information is very basic, I hope it is a useful reminder for you. You are breathing all the time. With a few minor adjustments breathing can become a powerful tool to support yourself. Start by closing your mouth and breathing through your nose. Probably this step can happen immediately. You can also if you wish focus on the sensation of the air coming in and out of your nose. That focus can also be a helpful distraction technique. Begin to slow down your breathing. It may take many breaths to achieve a significantly slower pace. However, if you can get down to 6 breaths per minute (one every 10 seconds) you have a strong likelihood of lowering your stress level. If you are not sure how to accomplish slowing down, start counting you...

By Tom Horvath, PhD This blog will publicize a recent blog post on syringe services from Nora Volkow, MD, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). She states that: Nearly 30 years of research show that providing testing, counseling, and sterile injection supplies to people who inject opioids and other drugs helps prevent transmission of infectious diseases, without increasing drug-related or other crimes in the vicinity. Contrary to worries that syringe services programs (SSPs) will encourage or promote drug use, evidence shows that they more often do the opposite, linking people with addiction to effective treatment and even helping prevent overdose deaths. There is no scientist or professional who is more credible on this subject than Dr. Volkow. Her stanc...

Tom Horvath, PhD, ABPP In preparation for celebrating our 40th anniversary next month, we are updating pages on our website. Today we focus on: https://www.practicalrecovery.com/about-us/ If you have scanned other websites, you may find language identical or similar to ours about what the facility provides. However, having these words on their website does not mean that the facility acts accordingly. If you want to determine what a facility in fact provides, the questions identified here may be helpful: https://www.practicalrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Questions-Final-1.pdf The marketing of treatment facilities is a fiercely competitive endeavor. Facilities may say what they think sounds good, without actually providing it. Perhaps Practical Recovery should...

By Tom Horvath, PhD On October 22, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal, SMART Recovery held its first international conference, in conjunction with the Lisbon Addictions 2024 conference. Lisbon Addictions drew over 2,000 attendees. SMART’s event only had about 50, but they attended from Indonesia, Australia, Hong Kong, Africa, the US, and throughout Europe. SMART was also celebrating its 30th birthday. Although a human baby requires nine months preparation for birth, SMART’s birth required about five years. By October 1994, it was an independent non-profit operating with the name SMART Recovery. At the conference SMART had a booth in the exhibit hall, where we explained to our many visitors what the differences between AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and SMART Recovery are. SMART Recovery, ...