Welcome to this week’s addiction blog roundup. I am starting a Friday roundup; a post of some of the interesting addiction related news and blog articles I have read during the week. Feel free to check back in every week and find something new (and hopefully interesting). Have a great weekend!
Empathy and Substance Abuse Counseling
Kenneth Pecoraro talks about empathy related to substance abuse counseling at addictionblog.org. I thought it was a good reminder for all of us: You can empathize with another person’s point of view even though you disagree with them.
Bill over at whatmesober.com writes about secrets that addicts keep and how important it is in recovery to let the light and fresh air shine in to the dark places.
Giving Children the Science of the Brain to Break the Cycles
At breakingthecycles.org, Lisa Frederickson talked this week about the importance of helping children understand the power of their brain. It is never too early to start this conversation.
5 Reasons Substance Abuse is Even More Dangerous for Young People
Richard Taite, writing for The Science of Addiction at PsychCentral, discusses how the choices that you make around substance use as an adolescent can affect the rest of your life. I think it should be required reading for all teens!
Over at Psychology Today on the Some Assembly Required blog, Dan Mager talks about recovery and how it goes far beyond abstinence. He notes that it is “…about developing the awareness and practicing the skills to act consciously rather than react habitually…”. I talk about the difference between responding and reacting all the time with clients. It is important in life and a critical skill to learn in the recovery process.