These days there seems to be tons of research on addiction client dynamics, addiction treatments and addiction client epidemiology. So, it is refreshing to read a few research projects directed to us—the addiction professional. Among a number of interesting questions directed at us are: How do addiction counselors usually conduct treatment? Do we use the latest evidence-based treatments?

Today’s communities face a myriad of challenges—violence, drug abuse, crime, illness—but these problems and the long-term damage they can cause can be prevented with appropriate education and intervention. Prevention-based programs are taking that message to schools, workplaces, faith-based organizations and community centers in the United States and 22 countries around the world. The success of these programs relies on a competent, well-trained, ethical and professional workforce of Prevention Specialists.

As we begin a new year, it is time to cast our vision into the future to see what might lie ahead for the alcohol and drug abuse field. I often say that a good supervisor must have super-vision, which means the ability to help addiction professionals prepare for what’s ahead.

Looking back in history, drug and alcohol abuse has been linked to war—as far back as the Civil War, when morphine was used for wounded troops on the battlefield. Then after World Wars I and II, stimulants and alcohol use became prevalent among military service personnel. In the Vietnam War, many of the troops were introduced to marijuana and heroin; the problem became so bad that on June 11, 1971, President Nixon started the military drug urinalysis program to identify service members returning from Vietnam for drug rehabilitation.

This is the second installment in a two-column series dealing with the importance of proper back care while enjoying a wellness lifestyle in recovery. The first column provided an overview concerning the relevance of back care to people suffering from substance abuse disorders, together with basic pointers for preventing lower back problems. This column focuses on basic treatment and rehabilitation considerations for chronic back pain, again with an emphasis on the importance of these considerations for people in recovery.

January/February Q&A with LifeQuake Doctor Toni Galardi

One of the most frustrating, yet rewarding, challenges I’ve undertaken as a recovery counselor has been engaging young adults in weekly discussions about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD). For the past five years I have been privileged to work with 14- to 19-year-olds at an all-male Catholic prep school in Connecticut. Most but not all students in my tobacco education and cessation program (BUTT OUT!) have gotten their parents’ permission to smoke cigarettes and secured a pass for a fee. This allows the students to smoke at specified times in “the pit.”

The outbreak that began in the summer of 2005 was something that could easily have been an episode of CSI. The only thing missing was the primal scream of Roger Daltrey belting out “Who Are You?”