Thursday, November 17, 2011

Who Falls to Addiction & Who is Unscathed?

     Have you ever wondered why you have an addiction and your best friend seemed to be using or drinking as much as you at one point but they could stop and you couldn't? The New York Times had a great article on who falls to addiction and who gets by unscathed.  Read more about this topic on the following link.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/health/05brod.html?ref=alcoholabuse

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Bill and Bob, the Damage of Alcohol, and What Works in Treatment

David Kaptain, Program Manager, Powell Chemical Dependency Center

In October of 2010 in Minneapolis I saw the stage production of Bill W. and Dr. Bob.  I was immediately impressed by the play’s careful and accurate depiction of the complex dynamics of alcoholism, especially of the great individual and family damage caused by this most destructive form of addiction.  I knew I had to get this play to Des Moines!

Just how destructive is alcoholism? 

Alcoholism represents the most damaging and costly addiction facing our country today. 

The prevalence of alcoholism in the US is well documented:  Nearly 17 million Americans have alcohol problems, including 8 million with the disease of alcoholism, yet only 2-3 million receive treatment each year. Alcohol problems lead to death, disability, and billions in avoidable business and health care costs every year. It is estimated that alcohol-related problems cost every man, woman, and child in the U.S. $683 each year - that’s about 210.4 billion a year!  Despite the myriad of problems stemming from alcohol use, Americans face enormous hurdles getting treated for alcohol problems. For those who can get it, the type of care often depends on where they live and work, not on what they need.  http://www.ensuringsolutions.org/media/

Even though Alcoholics Anonymous is completely non-self promoting, the 12 Steps approach to recovery and long-term sobriety of AA is well known.  Studies since the 1950’s have identified the group affiliation process of AA as one of the main reasons it works for people seeking recovery.  Contemporary studies support these notions, finding that AA participation predicts remission of alcoholism, improves abstinence, and improves response to treatment (Gossop, et, al, 2003; Moos & Moos, 2007; Laudet, Stanick, & Sands, 2007).  With over 117,000 groups containing more than 2,000,000 members in 180 countries, AA represents the most easily accessible and widely available grassroots effort at supporting sobriety that can be found anywhere. 

Bill W. and Dr. Bob's story details how this amazing movement got started, and why it still works over 70 years later.  It is well worth your time if you ever get a chance to see it.  Powell CDC and Iowa Health Des Moines sponsored the play's run at StageWest of the Des Moines Civic Center over a year ago, and I'm still having fond memories of the filled performances, the moving story and the powerful talk-back sessions we had after several of the performances. 

Because Alcoholics Anonymous is a proven support to short and long term recovery, Powell Chemical Dependency Center is a strong supporter of AA.  Our program integrates 12 Step concepts and participation with the newest solution-focused and motivational methods of addiction treatment to create a supportive and effective environment for beginning recovery.  We actively encourage our patients to experience and connect with AA and other 12 Step based groups to strengthen and support their hard earned recovery.  We find that our patients who do connect with AA and other supportive recovery groups experience more effective initial and longer-term success.  For these reasons we will continue to encourage AA to all of our patients.  If it works, keep doing it!!

All the best, 

Dave