SMART Recovery’s First Systematic Scientific Review
SMART Recovery’s First Systematic Scientific Review by Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP The first systematic scientific review of SMART Recovery was published earlier this year. What is a systematic review? It reports the process of “identifying, summarizing and evaluating the quality of evidence for SMART Recovery” (Beck, Forbes, Baker, Kelly, et al, 2017, p. 2). Prior […]
Gauging Success in Recovery
Gauging Success in Recovery by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Success in recovery is about much more than abstinence. In fact, for about half of the people who recover moderation is the outcome. Basing success on abstinence sets people up for the abstinence violation effect, which can be a major factor in pushing a minor slip into […]
Why Do People Use Drugs? The Relationship Between Emotions and Addiction, pt. 6: Happiness
Why Do People Use Drugs? The Relationship Between Emotions and Addiction, pt. 6: Happiness by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. The final topic of our in-depth exploration of each core emotion is happiness. Happiness is the most pleasurable, desired, pursued, elusive, mercurial emotion of all. If happiness is so pleasurable and desired then it can’t be a […]
Why Do People Use Drugs? The Relationship Between Emotions and Addiction, pt. 3: Sadness
Why Do People Use Drugs? The Relationship Between Sadness and Addiction by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. This week sadness is the topic that continues our in-depth exploration of each core emotion. If you ever wonder, ‘why do people use drugs?’ sadness is often an answer. Many of the most painful emotions (e.g. grief, bereavement, mourning) and debilitating […]
Why Do People Use Drugs? The Relationship Between Emotions and Addiction, pt. 2: Anger
Why Do People Use Drugs? The Relationship Between Emotions and Addiction, pt. 2: Anger by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. For the first in-depth look at each core emotion we begin with anger. Few would object that anger is one answer to the question, ‘why do people use drugs?’ Anger tends to conjure potent associations like violence, […]
High Sobriety: An Interview with Joe Schrank
High Sobriety: Cannabis Inclusive Treatment Opens in Los Angeles An Interview with Joe Schrank, by Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP In an effort to offer another pathway to recovery, High Sobriety in Los Angeles opened last month a residential treatment facility that includes the option of prescribed cannabis. The home page states: “For generations we have been […]
How to Pick a Good Therapist
How to Pick a Good Therapist by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. One of my favorite professors often espoused that, “when it comes to therapists, the competition is at the level of mediocrity.” Finding the right therapist can be quite an undertaking. In the world of therapists there are countless therapeutic modalities, certifications, qualifications, and credentials. This […]
Highlights from The Surgeon General’s Report
Alcohol, Drugs, and Health: Highlights from The Surgeon General’s Report Tom Horvath, Ph.D., and Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health, released in November, has received considerable attention. The massive effort involved in creating this document is in itself worthy of respect. The opening pages list […]
Self-Care in Recovery: H.A.L.T. at the Crossroads
Self-Care in Recovery H.A.L.T. At The Crossroads by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. I recently received a request from a reader to examine H.A.L.T. in light of current research. H.A.L.T. is a commonly used acronym by 12-Step circles in discussions of triggers and relapse prevention, and it stands for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. It is based […]
New Year’s Resolutions
by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Turn New Year’s Resolutions into Lasting Change Achieving lasting change can be elusive. Whether you make resolutions at the dawn of the New Year or at other times in your life, we all make promises to ourselves to change. However, many times the firm commitments we make to ourselves fade like […]