The place where Juan Blea writes about all that is good and strong and beautiful!

Category addiction recovery

3 things an opiate addict can do that might help her kick

A while back, I got a call from a mentor with a GED program about a client of hers who needed help. The client was a seventeen (17) – year-old girl who’s addicted to Oxycodone. Anytime I get these types… Continue Reading →

Why metaphors are great treatment tools

The reality is that there are hundreds of ways to treat a substance abuse problem. The challenge for practitioners is which is the best? For me, approaches that focus on client empowerment and establishing meaning through the client’s perspective tend… Continue Reading →

Reflective journaling can help manage our emotional responses

The other night, during my version of an intervention, a young wife said to me, “I can’t leave him.  I want him to stop using, but i can’t just leave him.” I didn’t give her words much thought before I… Continue Reading →

As long as payoff is high and harm is low, an addict WON'T seek recovery

There is a simple truth when dealing with Addiction: As long as the payoff for using is of high value AND as long as the negative outcomes are either insignificant or meaningless, there is absolutely no reason for an addict… Continue Reading →

No one can fix somebody else, but there is comfort in understanding.

During a recent consultation phone call, a mother of a young woman who was binge-drinking argued that her daughter was a full-blown alcoholic and needed intense treatment. “But,” I said. “Is she using alcohol compulsively?” Her brow furrowed and her… Continue Reading →

We NEED to consider extended-release Naltrexone for treatment opioid dependence

A study published at the end of 2015 (please see this article summary) showed that opiate addicts benefited more from extended release naltrexone treatment than they previously had with Suboxone. It appears that naltrexone with psychosocial therapy significantly reduced the… Continue Reading →

I need to beat The Addict once and for all — PLEASE SHARE

I first remember meeting The Addict when I was around 8 years old. My family was hosting a regular Friday night barbecue and, as usual, alcohol was involved. There weren’t many times when my dad chose to NOT drink copious… Continue Reading →

Addicts need to learn to feel in order to begin recovery

I was in the middle of a somewhat heated conversation with someone about her addiction last night. At one point in the conversation, I informed her that I was extremely concerned because she is at the same point in her… Continue Reading →

Can family toxicity contribute to addiction?

The simple truth is that there is something to my argument that an entire culture can become “traumatized” and then reflect PTSD symptoms.   The drive for relief from the constant and seemingly nonexistent source of the anxiety that accompanies PTSD… Continue Reading →

A story about willpower in addiction treatment

He was in line at a local Starbucks when he noticed my new book on the table in front of me. “Hmmm,” he said to me. “Where’d you get that book?” “Well,” I responded. “I wrote it. I’m putting together… Continue Reading →

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