Longterm: A Podcast on Recovery – Interview with Tom Horvath, Ph.D.
Longterm: A Podcast on Recovery Interview with Tom Horvath, Ph.D. Episode: Understanding Recovery Beyond the Stereotype YouTube: https://youtu.be/c3wGl2If6o8?si=8HplQQxea6gMuG7c Spotify and all other podcast platforms: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/tiking/ The host is Ti King. The podcast was described this way: Dr. Horvath explains that SMART Recovery is a free mutual-help group, similar to AA in its community-driven support. However, […]
The 2025 Addiction Recovery Science Conference
Tom Horvath, Ph.D. The second National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science was held online 4/23-24, 2025. The closing panel presentation was “Recovery Science: What Do We Know, and What Do We Need to Know?” The panel consisted of internationally recognized experts on this topic: David Best, Andrew Finch, Christine Grella, Keith Humphreys, and Sarah Zemore. […]
The Value of Advocating for Safer Substance Use
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 New SMART Recovery Handbook (4th edition)
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 […]
Changing Your Mind with Mindfulness Meditation, Part 2
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 […]
Using SMART Recovery as a Free Alternative to Residential Treatment
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 […]
How SMART Recovery Works
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 […]
Changing Your Mind with Mindfulness Meditation
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 […]
A Simple Relaxation Technique: Slow Breathing
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 […]
Syringe Services: Helping Drug Injectors Use More Safely is Beneficial
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 […]