Government Takeover of 12 Step Programs--coming soon

I have long been a member and supporter of Faces & Voices of Recovery--their main message when they began was to get the faces of people in recovery out into the open so the general public could KNOW we do recover. This was in contrast to the "anonymous" programs that keep members in the shadows by their tradition of staying anonymous at the level of press radio and film. I am in recovery and although I publicly state I am in recovery  I never mention the specific 12 step programs programs I attend in order to honor this tradition. This way I could advocate for recovery and remain anonymous with specific programs and follow traditions.

I believe the traditions have worked very well for keeping Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous  Cocaine Anonymous,  Chemically Dependent Anonymous, and many others from taking positions on issues--have "spokespeople" that end up drunk and in the media--and have the government or other organizations from telling us how to "help" people in recovery by giving us money. The 12 step programs don't take money form the government or outsiders so we don't take orders from them.

Now it looks like Faces and Voices of Recovery: is going a bit too far in saying that peer support (mainly 12 step groups)--need to become a part of the new health care legislation in order to get funded for helping people get to our groups. Am I reading this wrong? Join Together reports:

Recovery groups should advocate for inclusion of peer recovery support services as part of essential health benefits that will be covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to Faces & Voices of Recovery. Peer recovery support services are delivered by individuals who have “lived experience” with addiction and recovery.

Faces & Voices of Recovery, an advocacy group, has produced an issue brief that explains how recovery advocates can support inclusion of these non-clinical services that help people achieve long-term recovery from addiction.

I download the brief from Faces & Voices--and it seems that is what they are saying:

As states are deciding what their EHB will look like, they will be looking at a range of services, including peer recovery support services. If they are included in the EHB, people will have access to these critical services and they will be covered by insurance or Medicaid. Also, organizations that provide PRSS will be reimbursed for providing those services.

What is going on here???? Is Faces and Voices of Recovery advocating for a government takeover of 12 step programs? That's what I read here. Please someone, prove me wrong. If the providers (ie 12 step groups) should take money for services--we would put our very success in at risk. Or worse--are they saying we should start "fake" anonymous peer groups that take money from government running of the success of the real groups--siphoning prospective members from government health care--members who would normally find the real groups?

It's not clear and I'm not happy about bureaucratizing the 12 step programs in any way. Can someone help me here?
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Commentary: Why the Term “Enabling” Does More Harm Than Good

Finally!!!!! Some on in the government is beginning to see the light. According to Kimberly Kirby, PhD

Director of the Parent’s Translational Research Center; Senior Scientist, enabling and using the term may do more harm than good. Well, yes, we at Sober coaching have been saying that for a long time. You do not want to make it easier for your kid to use, but you don't want to abandon them either. So where do you turn? To "experts" who tell you how sick you are?

Hardly. Let's get constructive and become our child's sober coach. There are many ways you can help, in fact ways probably only you, the parent, can...so nose around the sober coaching site for more information. Remember, FREE downloads and a peek at the workbook are available. 

Here is an excerpt of what Dr. Kirby had to say:

Commentary: Why the Term “Enabling” Does More Harm Than Good | The Partnership at Drugfree.org: "The term “enabling” is commonplace in the field of addiction. It is used within support group settings, in treatment programs and throughout the professional literature about addiction and the family. I consider it one of the most frequently misunderstood terms in our field. In fact, as my research about family caregivers of people with substance use disorders has evolved, I have come to loathe the term “enabling.” Here is why"

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Texas Tech University-Collegiate Recovery Conference

Texas Tech University :: College of Human Sciences :: CSAR :: Collegiate Recovery Conference: "April 3-5, 2013

This is a great conference--I was Keynote speaker at one of the Texas Tech addiction conferences years ago and I love these people.

We are excited to announce our 4th National  Collegiate Recovery Conference at Texas Tech University.  Mark your calendars for April 3-5 for three days filled with speakers, topics and workshops addressing recovery in higher education.

Registration begins at 1:00 pm on Wednesday April 3rd at the McKenzie Merket Alumni Center on the campus of TTU.  The entirety of the conference this year is at the TTU Alumni Center with of course, our Celebration of Recovery held at the Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery

Registration is now open!

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Pocket Sponsor am on my 5th Pocket Sponsor!

I just wanted to call attention to this--we love it when someone writes in and tell us how the Pocket Sponsor has helped their recovery! thanks, DARA!


Pocket Sponsor: "From wheeling West Virginia,  My name is Dara W. I am from Whg. WV, I met you when I was in my first year of recovery at the Unity Center in Whg. I just celebrated my 7yr anniversary. By the Grace of God & the AA fellowship that I am part of. I wanted to thank you for writing this book & the mini thumbnail book. I am on my 5th one. They wear out easy when you are always opening them. lol, Thank you and God Bless"

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Recovery in Russia

OMG--look what I found when looking for some speakers tapes I've done--an old article I had forgotten about when I used to work in Russia! I had forgotten what a great sense of humor those slovacks have! Below is a favorite memory--the whole article brought back delightful memories--take a look:

Recovery in Russia: "I noticed a mini museum of AA memorabilia from around the country. I saw a bottle from Pskov carved out of wood by sober alkies with the likeness of Christ, a Serenity Prayer candle from Ekaterinburga, a huge medallion carved from wood from Tomsk, and a Camel from Poland. When I asked what the dolls from Chernigov represented that featured a Babushka carrying an old man, Olya quipped, “You don’t recognize co-dependency?”"

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Exercise With a Sober Group Is a Delight - Share Your Story: Using Exercise in Recovery

I never got to exercise with a recovery like the people in the story below--but I know I would have loved it. I used to play racket ball with my brother in recovery, does that count? when I quite smoking I joined a health club and worked out and stat in the hot tub. Well, I mostly sat in the hot tub! The article below gives some great tips for recovery exercise--check it out.


Exercise With a Sober Group Is a Delight - Share Your Story: Using Exercise in Recovery: "How Do You Exercise to Help With Your Recovery?
I started exercising with a group of sober friends more than ten years ago after I quit smoking and started to get chubby. We started out with four and now our Saturday morning run/triathlon training group is regularly more than twelve. "

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lindsay-lohan-drunk-canyons-

I always feel so bad for these actors and actresses who just can't get it together. I've worked for a lot of celebrities and their biggest downfall is that everyone wants to please them, instead of telling them the truth. People are so afraid of saying, "don't pick up stupid!" because they will get fired--yes, drunks and addicts fire the ones who tell them the truth. BUT, you can't work for a dead person--and using leads to death, institutions or jail....

Parents often have the same trouble--they are afraid that if they tell their kids the truth, their kids will "fire" them--It's rough parenting an addict...but remember, you did not cause this, you can not "save" them--you can tell them the truth and eventually they will hear you.

Lindsay Lohan keeps begging for more work … but then when she gets it, she doesn’t take it seriously.
For her latest movie, the $250,000 budget “The Canyons” co-starring porn star James Deen, the actress was a veritable drunken mess, according to New York Times’ reporter Stephen Rodrick, who was embedded with the cast and crew during production.
About.com: http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/lindsay-lohan-drunk-canyons-set-then-drove-home-224308814.html:

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