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 20 of 72 Briefings; each contains a link to an original pdf. I will slowly upload all other Briefings.
Articles
A selection of my articles about different aspects related to addiction recovery.
Factors that Facilitate Recovery
The importance of these factors has been demonstrated by listening to the narratives of recovering people about their journeys into and out of addiction (1,200 words).
Impact of Substance Use Problems on the Family
This research aimed to look at how a loved one’s substance use problems can impact on the health and well-being of parents and siblings (1,400 words).
Journeys Into and Out of Heroin Addiction, Part 1:
Common themes that resonate about people’s journeys into and out of heroin addiction, and common factors that influence these journeys. This first part focuses on the descent into addiction (5,300 words).
Journeys Into and Out of Heroin Addiction, Part 2
Focuses on living with addiction and covers such topics as relationships, changes in personality and lifestyle, hustling, crime and prison, impact on health, and treatment (5,900 words).
Reflections on Recovery
Looks at the development of the recovery paradigm and how solutions to severe substance use problems are manifested by millions of people who have recovered from addiction (1,800 words).
Stopping Heroin Use Without Treatment
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 (2,200 words).
Treatment of Substance Use Problems
Formal treatment can help the initiation of recovery from addiction, facilitating a self-healing process, and help a person minimise the harms from their substance use (2,600 words).