A brief look at the nature of addiction, the main types of help that facilitate recovery from addiction, the stages of behavioural change, and some of the features of addiction treatment. (1,911 words)
Articles
A selection of my articles about different aspects related to addiction recovery listed in alphabetical order. Articles with an * at the end of the summary involve research carried out by our Wired In team.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), 12-Step Movement, and Minnesota Model
March 14, 2023 by
Describes the nature of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), other 12-Step programmes, and the Minnesota Model, how they developed, and the key assumptions that underlie their approach. (1,320 words)
Background Briefings
March 14, 2023 by
For a period of four years from 15th November 2004, I wrote a series of Background Briefings for Drink and Drugs News (DDN), the leading UK magazine focused on drug and alcohol treatment. Here are links to 38 of 72 Briefings; each contains a link to an original pdf. I will slowly upload all other Briefings.
Factors That Facilitate Addiction Recovery
March 14, 2023 by
Recovery is something done by the person with the substance use problem, not by a treatment practitioner or anyone else. Whilst there are a multitude of pathways to recovery, there are a number of key factors that facilitate recovery from serious substance use problems. (9,586 words) *
Factors that Facilitate Recovery (Short Version, 2013)
March 14, 2023 by
The importance of these factors has been demonstrated by listening to the narratives of recovering people about their journeys into and out of addiction (1,116 words). *
Harm Reduction (Harm Minimisation)
March 14, 2023 by
Describes the rationale behind the harm reduction approach, as well as the different harm reduction interventions, e.g. needle and syringe exchanges and methadone maintenance. (922 words)
Impact of a Loved One’s Substance Use Problems on Family Members
March 14, 2023 by
Our research aimed to look at how a loved one’s substance use problems can impact on the health and well-being of other family members. (2,145 words) *
Journeys, Part 1: Descent Into Heroin Addiction
March 14, 2023 by
Heroin users’ own accounts of their experiences help us understand why and how people start using heroin, and continue to use until they realise they have become addicted to the drug. (5,176 words) *
Journeys, Part 2: Living With Heroin Addiction
March 14, 2023 by
Heroin addiction often leads to changes in a person’s relationships, lifestyle, physical and psychological health, values, and identity. Some heroin addicts engage in criminal activity to maintain their habit. Heroin addicts are stigmatised by wider society. (5,643 words) *
Learning From the Experts at BAC O’Connor
March 14, 2023 by
A qualitative research project involving clients of the structured day care programme at BAC O’Connor provided insights into the positive effects of the programme, as well as the factors that contributed to these beneficial effects. (2,302 words) *
My Journey: From Brain Chemicals to Human Connection
March 14, 2023 by
An ongoing serialised account of my career, with an emphasis on describing my activities and the people who have inspired me since I closed down my university neuroscience laboratory in 2000 and started a community initiative (Wired In) focused on empowering people to overcome substance use problems.
Psychoactive Drugs and Their Effects
March 14, 2023 by
Considers classification of psychoactive drugs (including alcohol); their effects on the brain; the drug experience; biological factors that influence the effects of long-term drug use; absorption and elimination of drugs, and the harms and risks of drug use. (6,176 words)
Should Recreational Drug Use Be Criminalised?
March 14, 2023 by
Douglas Husack provides a cogent analysis of the drug laws debate, focusing on the various reasons that prohibitionists posit for criminalising drug use, as well as the various disadvantages of prohibition. (1,992 words)
Stopping Heroin Use Without Treatment
March 14, 2023 by
Research by Patrick Biernacki reveals important insights into how people recover from heroin addiction. It also illustrates the major challenges that people with a heroin addiction face on their journey to recovery (2,283 words).
Understanding Intentional Behavioural Change
March 14, 2023 by
Recovery from addiction is about behavioural change. James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente’s model about the stages and processes of behavioural change has made a very significant contribution to the field. (2,409 words)
