alcohol and other drug problems among addiction professionals
alcohol and other drug problems among addiction professionals
alcohol and other drug problems among addiction professionals
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E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r yn n nSome issues draw attention because of their broad scope, <strong>and</strong> <strong>other</strong>s becauseof their depth <strong>and</strong> potential impact. In September, 2006 <strong>and</strong> March, 2007, thirtyleaders in the <strong>addiction</strong> field gathered in Greenville, South Carolina <strong>and</strong> Savannah,Georgia to grapple with an issue whose scope is still unknown <strong>and</strong> whose consequences,when they arise, can be devastating.“Alcohol <strong>and</strong> Other Drug Problems Among Addiction Professionals” was thetitle of the Symposium Series sponsored by Southeast Addiction Technology TransferCenter <strong>and</strong> facilitated by Terence T. Gorski. The participants, leaders from thestates of Georgia <strong>and</strong> South Carolina, found in one an<strong>other</strong> rich resources of passion,dedication, knowledge, experience, humor, <strong>and</strong> hope. In the topic they founda door to the very core of the field’s work: Effective, ethical, fair, <strong>and</strong> humane treatmentof human beings.The tendency of compassion to grow out of pain has led many people fromtroubled backgrounds to seek work in the helping professions. The <strong>addiction</strong> field’shistorical roots in recovery have given it higher concentrations of recovering staffthan most <strong>other</strong> helping fields. Escalating needs <strong>and</strong> dwindling resources haveraised the field’s levels of stress <strong>and</strong> fatigue <strong>and</strong> made it more <strong>and</strong> more difficultto find the time <strong>and</strong> the will for self-care. And society’s relentless stigmatization ofpeople with <strong>addiction</strong> has often distorted the field’s awareness of, <strong>and</strong> response to,the <strong>alcohol</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>other</strong> <strong>drug</strong> (AOD) <strong>problems</strong> that arise <strong>among</strong> its staff.When these <strong>problems</strong> are denied or mish<strong>and</strong>led, they can endanger or destroythe fragile recovery <strong>and</strong> well being of vulnerable clients; the careers <strong>and</strong> potentialof dedicated but struggling employees; the harmony <strong>and</strong> equilibrium of serviceteams <strong>and</strong> entire organizational cultures; <strong>and</strong> community perception of, <strong>and</strong> beliefin, the treatment organization, the treatment field, <strong>and</strong> recovery itself.When these <strong>problems</strong> are addressed in humane, effective, <strong>and</strong> situation-appropriateways, they can save lives, restore careers, preserve the effectiveness <strong>and</strong>integrity of the treatment organization, <strong>and</strong> make a powerful statement about thestrength <strong>and</strong> resiliency of recovery. At the first symposium, participants identifiedtwelve core needs that the field <strong>and</strong> its leaders must consider to craft effective responsesto these issues. They are as follows:n n
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