There is a long held assumption among many that in order to recover from a substance use disorder, one must seek professional treatment.
There is a long held assumption among many that in order to recover from a substance use disorder, one must seek professional treatment.
l
The gatekeeper myth implies that the path to recovery from substance use disorder exclusively goes through a highly trained addiction treatment specialist.
fails to acknowledge the path of “natural recovery” (i.e., recovery from substance use disorder without formal treatment and/or recovery support services) &
overlooks the role of mutual-help groups, recovery community centers, recovery homes, recovery schools, pastoral counselling, & community supervision programs operated by the criminal justice system in supporting recovery
The myth creates a harmful narrative that substance use disorder treatment is responsible for all the good and bad related to harmful substance in the US.
The author explains that people with a substance use disorder can change for many reasons outside of professional treatment. He frames substance use disorder as a chronic behavioral health problem dynamically influenced by an individual’s motivation, skills, choices and environments.
For example, the influence of individual decisions should be considered as part of the process of how people with a substance use disorder change. Many people are able to capitalize on their existing resources to implement strategies that are often used in treatment as well. For many years, untrained and untreated individuals with a substance use disorder have practiced strategies to relax and have fun, created a social circle of people who do not use alcohol and other drugs, made concrete plans to change, and set limits on their behavior.
Non-professional recovery support services have facilitated change from a substance use disorder for many years and are often thriving both nationally and internationally, including mutual help groups, recovery community centers, recovery homes, recovery schools, pastoral counselling, and internet based support groups. Community supervision programs operated by the criminal justice system are among the most effective strategies to promote alcohol and other drug abstinence. These programs include HOPE probation and 24/7 Sobriety, which use drug testing and contingency management principles to require that criminal offenders do not use substances or, “face swift, certain but modest consequences (e.g., one night in jail).”
In light of the reality of how people actually change substance use when they do not receive treatment, the author proposes the importance of letting go of the gatekeeper myth and embracing a message that more accurately reflects the breadth of internal and external resources individuals rely on to recover from a substance use disorder, certainly including, though not completely limited to, professional services.
This is accomplished by promoting a menu of recovery pathways that are supported by scientific research, even if their source is not from addiction professionals.
The next steps will require a plan for dissolving the gatekeeper myth. Embracing a research agenda that seeks to understand all pathways and mechanisms of recovery, regardless of professional involvement, will help change the narrative around a single path to recovery filtered only through the professional treatment system.
Humphreys, K. (2015). Addiction treatment professionals are not the gatekeepers of recovery. Substance Use and Misuse, 50(8-9), 1024-1027. doi:10.3109/10826084.2015.1007678
l
The gatekeeper myth implies that the path to recovery from substance use disorder exclusively goes through a highly trained addiction treatment specialist.
fails to acknowledge the path of “natural recovery” (i.e., recovery from substance use disorder without formal treatment and/or recovery support services) &
overlooks the role of mutual-help groups, recovery community centers, recovery homes, recovery schools, pastoral counselling, & community supervision programs operated by the criminal justice system in supporting recovery
The myth creates a harmful narrative that substance use disorder treatment is responsible for all the good and bad related to harmful substance in the US.
The author explains that people with a substance use disorder can change for many reasons outside of professional treatment. He frames substance use disorder as a chronic behavioral health problem dynamically influenced by an individual’s motivation, skills, choices and environments.
For example, the influence of individual decisions should be considered as part of the process of how people with a substance use disorder change. Many people are able to capitalize on their existing resources to implement strategies that are often used in treatment as well. For many years, untrained and untreated individuals with a substance use disorder have practiced strategies to relax and have fun, created a social circle of people who do not use alcohol and other drugs, made concrete plans to change, and set limits on their behavior.
Non-professional recovery support services have facilitated change from a substance use disorder for many years and are often thriving both nationally and internationally, including mutual help groups, recovery community centers, recovery homes, recovery schools, pastoral counselling, and internet based support groups. Community supervision programs operated by the criminal justice system are among the most effective strategies to promote alcohol and other drug abstinence. These programs include HOPE probation and 24/7 Sobriety, which use drug testing and contingency management principles to require that criminal offenders do not use substances or, “face swift, certain but modest consequences (e.g., one night in jail).”
In light of the reality of how people actually change substance use when they do not receive treatment, the author proposes the importance of letting go of the gatekeeper myth and embracing a message that more accurately reflects the breadth of internal and external resources individuals rely on to recover from a substance use disorder, certainly including, though not completely limited to, professional services.
This is accomplished by promoting a menu of recovery pathways that are supported by scientific research, even if their source is not from addiction professionals.
The next steps will require a plan for dissolving the gatekeeper myth. Embracing a research agenda that seeks to understand all pathways and mechanisms of recovery, regardless of professional involvement, will help change the narrative around a single path to recovery filtered only through the professional treatment system.
Humphreys, K. (2015). Addiction treatment professionals are not the gatekeepers of recovery. Substance Use and Misuse, 50(8-9), 1024-1027. doi:10.3109/10826084.2015.1007678
l
The gatekeeper myth implies that the path to recovery from substance use disorder exclusively goes through a highly trained addiction treatment specialist.
fails to acknowledge the path of “natural recovery” (i.e., recovery from substance use disorder without formal treatment and/or recovery support services) &
overlooks the role of mutual-help groups, recovery community centers, recovery homes, recovery schools, pastoral counselling, & community supervision programs operated by the criminal justice system in supporting recovery
The myth creates a harmful narrative that substance use disorder treatment is responsible for all the good and bad related to harmful substance in the US.
The author explains that people with a substance use disorder can change for many reasons outside of professional treatment. He frames substance use disorder as a chronic behavioral health problem dynamically influenced by an individual’s motivation, skills, choices and environments.
For example, the influence of individual decisions should be considered as part of the process of how people with a substance use disorder change. Many people are able to capitalize on their existing resources to implement strategies that are often used in treatment as well. For many years, untrained and untreated individuals with a substance use disorder have practiced strategies to relax and have fun, created a social circle of people who do not use alcohol and other drugs, made concrete plans to change, and set limits on their behavior.
Non-professional recovery support services have facilitated change from a substance use disorder for many years and are often thriving both nationally and internationally, including mutual help groups, recovery community centers, recovery homes, recovery schools, pastoral counselling, and internet based support groups. Community supervision programs operated by the criminal justice system are among the most effective strategies to promote alcohol and other drug abstinence. These programs include HOPE probation and 24/7 Sobriety, which use drug testing and contingency management principles to require that criminal offenders do not use substances or, “face swift, certain but modest consequences (e.g., one night in jail).”
In light of the reality of how people actually change substance use when they do not receive treatment, the author proposes the importance of letting go of the gatekeeper myth and embracing a message that more accurately reflects the breadth of internal and external resources individuals rely on to recover from a substance use disorder, certainly including, though not completely limited to, professional services.
This is accomplished by promoting a menu of recovery pathways that are supported by scientific research, even if their source is not from addiction professionals.
The next steps will require a plan for dissolving the gatekeeper myth. Embracing a research agenda that seeks to understand all pathways and mechanisms of recovery, regardless of professional involvement, will help change the narrative around a single path to recovery filtered only through the professional treatment system.
Humphreys, K. (2015). Addiction treatment professionals are not the gatekeepers of recovery. Substance Use and Misuse, 50(8-9), 1024-1027. doi:10.3109/10826084.2015.1007678
SIGN UP FOR THE BULLETIN
