Author: Marc Hertz
What’s in a Name?
There is much discussion in the field of substance use disorder about the stigma associated with the words “addiction” and “alcoholism.” Being old enough to remember when there was no other name for addicts and alcoholics, and the behavioral territory that went with it, it’s easy enough to understand why there is a stigma. In […]
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Drinking Around a Loved One in Recovery
As an opiate and cocaine addict in recovery I sometime think, “Oh, those poor alcoholics. How do they do it? Their favorite drug is right in front of them all the time! Billboards on the way home from work, sporting events, TV ads, pictures in magazines and the inevitable social event where everyone else is […]
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A Path to Healing from Addiction
In this video you will experience a family’s story about their journey to recovery and healing. When Chris and Michele first came to FRrē, the goal was to “fix” the problem (in their case, it was to “fix” Chris, the alcoholic). Quickly they learned that working with FRrē meant much more than just getting Chris […]
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Does Treatment Work?
While the war on drugs rages on and the opioid crisis continues to worsen, the arguments continue: Treatment works! Treatment doesn’t work! The “bad science” of the 12-step modality — if addiction is a disease and not a moral dilemma, why is a moral inventory (step four) prescribed? The answer to the last one is […]
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Dynamic Family Workshops
One of the services offered by FRrē is what we call the Dynamic Family Workshop. The workshop is typically a two-day experiential event, although it can be crafted to last anywhere from a half-day to three days. The process begins with the FRrē team gathering information from one family or multiple families to develop the […]
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The God Concept in Alcoholics Anonymous
If you go to a 12-step meeting such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, you’re gonna hear the G word: “God.” I have had clients reject the idea of AA or NA solely because they were atheist and they were uncomfortable or even insulted by the idea that a god would help them with their […]
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Is Addiction a Disease?
A great deal of time, energy and research has been given to the concept of addiction as a disease. Just about every treatment provider talks about a genetic pre-disposition to addiction, but I’ve never heard anyone identify a particular genetic mutation responsible for addiction. In contrast, genetic mutations linked to higher risk for diseases like […]
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Losing the War on Drugs
There’s a lot of attention lately on the “opioid epidemic” in America. Opioids were involved in the deaths of more than 42,000 people in 2016. For perspective, car accidents killed about 37,500 and gun violence killed 38,000 in that same year, the most recent year numbers are available. For added perspective, alcohol use leads to […]
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Resistance to Change Can Be Overcome
“Change causes stress.” Seems like everyone is on board with this concept. When I’m running a workshop or speaking to families, and I ask, “Does change cause stress?” I always get a resounding, “Yes!” “What about those new experiences that we perceive as positive things?” I ask. “That’s change, too. But where’s the stress?” From […]
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The Evolution of Intervention
I got my start in this field by performing traditional interventions. Once an individual finished treatment, I often worked with them, assisting with navigation into the recovery community while providing a layer of accountability. The lack of attention paid and help given to the families of those struggling with substance use disorder struck me as […]
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