Winter 2008 News&Views

SE L F
MANAGEMENT
SMART Recovery ®
&V I E W S
AND
R ECOVERY
TRAINING N E W S
Bringing Science and Reason to Self-Help with Addictive Behavior Volume 14, Issue 1 • Winter 2008
A. Thomas Horvath, PhD, President Emmett Velten, PhD, Editor
~ “This issue’s theme is: Development of Change.” ~
tives, with six (Michler Bishop, number of us enjoyed, through the

Gary Bagley, Brett Saarela, Ana trees, up hillsides, scrambling on
Cooperwasser, Peter Cusack and rocks, and exploring streams and
President’s Letter Eric Watkins). waterfalls.
The distance training has been
effective at training new meeting (Continued on page 2)
facilitators, at much less expense to
The 2007 SMART Recovery® everyone involved. Therefore, this
Inside:
Annual Conference year’s annual conference was
President’s Letter
The 2007 SMART Recovery®
This year we had a new type of devoted to a day-long planning Annual Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
SMART Recovery® annual confer- session (on Saturday, November 3) SMART Progress
ence. Unlike the years since 1996, involving everyone. The Board met Welcome to Our Newest
Board Member! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
we did not have a new facilitator all day Friday. Getting to the
Welcome Bill White, Our Newest Member
training as the conference center- meeting location was lengthy of the International Advisory Council! . . .3
piece. Instead, we invited only enough for most of us that even SMART Recovery® Program
most US attendees had a full day’s Tools & Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
“family,” individuals who are active
travel on either side of the event. International Development
volunteers in SMART Recovery. News from Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
There were a total of 28, including We met at the Stanford Sierra Further gains in Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Dawn Adamson (Canada), Conference Center, situated on a Book Review
Bronwyn Crosby and Jim Villamor small lake (Fallen Leaf Lake, Addiction-Proof Your Child . . . . . . . . . .6
(Australia), Henn Koch (Sweden perhaps a square mile in size) just SMART Ideas
and Estonia), and Fraser Ross and south of Lake Tahoe. The setting is Change or Suffer:
The Choice Is Up to You . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Tom McIntosh (Scotland). New beautiful, and allowed for morning What SMART Recovery® Has
York City had the most representa- and late afternoon hikes, which a Meant to Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
9th Circuit Rules Government
Officials Personally Liable . . . . . . . . . . .9
Volunteer Rewards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
The SMART Recovery® The program offers specific tools and People Power
Founding Members of SMART Recovery®
4-Point ProgramSM techniques for each of the program points: Online (SOL) Share Thoughts . . . . . .11
Point #1: Enhancing and maintaining I use iGive.com for all my online
T
he SMART Recovery® shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
motivation to abstain
(Self-Management And Books Behind Bars & Beyond . . . . . . .13
Recovery Training) Point #2: Coping with urges SMART Recovery® Attends
program helps individuals Compulsive Gambling Conference . . .13
Point #3: Managing thoughts, feelings and
gain independence from Prison Outreach
behavior (problem-solving)
addictive behavior. InsideOut® — A Profile in Success: . . .14
Our efforts are based on Point #4: Balancing momentary and Beyond the Walls: The 4-Point Focus: . .15
scientific knowledge and evolve enduring satisfactions 3-Minute REBT
as scientific knowledge evolves. (lifestyle balance) Developing a Passion for Living . . . . . .16
President’s Letter Continued
The Center is owned and oper-

ated by Stanford University for its
alumni in the summer, and outside
events in the spring and fall. Meals
were served in the dining room.
Because the other event scheduled
for that weekend cancelled, we had
the place to ourselves. We may
return there in a few years. We’ll
need to decide whether the beauty
and tranquility of the setting makes 2007 Annual Conference Participants
up for the time it takes to get there.
12-step groups need to be taken Recovery® (an especially important
Personally, it was like a great
into account in shaping an interna- issue country by country)? How can
summer camp for grownups. I thor-
tional organization, one whose core we imbed our core messages into all
oughly enjoyed the setting and my
principles can accommodate all of of our language, literature and
companions.
these differences. Along the way meeting rituals, even in subtle
The planning session is part of we shared a great deal of informa- ways, so that we are clear and
the planning process the Board tion about what is working in consistent? What is the minimal
initiated with an online survey different localities (and cultures), level of meeting availability we
some months ago. Thank you to all and began to make sense of how need to have in each locality, so
who participated in the survey! We different situations and cultures that we can say that SMART
are still interpreting the results. give rise to different needs. Because Recovery® is a realistic option for
The Board will continue the we had Saturday evening to have anyone who wants to attend?
process with a meeting this spring dinner and socialize, the meeting Should this minimum level be
in New York City. informally extended well beyond its established as a public goal? How
The Saturday session aimed to official end at 5pm. do we simplify our language and
address the most basic questions The questions that emerged out literature so that we reach the
about SMART Recovery®: Where of this meeting are worthy of broadest possible audience, and
are we? Where do we want to be? consideration by everyone involved attract more facilitators, without
How do we get there? It was not with SMART Recovery®. Here are diluting our core messages? Or
our immediate purpose to answer a few of the noteworthy ones. should we accept that we are not
these questions definitively. Rather, What is “core” SMART Recovery®, going to have a broad audience and
with the diversity of perspective and what is acceptable variation in focus on quality maintenance and
and location in the room, we different cultures (including SOL)? improvement rather than on
wanted to assure that our initial All recovery approaches establish growth? How do we promote
drafts of the answers were some ratio of self-reliance to increased contributions during the
addressing all the issues they reliance on outside help. What is “pass the hat” portion of the
needed to. In particular the pres- the ratio we wish to have, and how meeting? Given the rapid growth
ence of non-US representatives was do we describe it? What roles (in in non-US countries, how can this
enlightening, and allowed us to addition to facilitator) can we be supported?
look at how culture, the strength or establish to increase participant I was impressed with the
absence of a national health involvement? What roles should generous and hard-working attitude
service, and the relative strength of professionals have in SMART that attendees brought to this
Published by the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Self-Help Network, Inc. D.B.A. SMART Recovery®
7537 Mentor Avenue, Suite #306, Mentor, OH 44060 • Phone: 440/951-5357 • Fax: 440/951-5358 • E-mail: info@smartrecovery.org • www.smartrecovery.org
SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 14, Issue 1 • Winter 2008 Page 2
meeting. “I want to learn how to Stephen is a graduate of the Master’s degree in Addiction
support my local facilitators better. Massachusetts Institute of Studies and has worked full time
I want to create the right space for Technology, and received his MBA in the addictions field since 1969
a sustainable, cohesive community. from the Harvard Graduate School as a street worker, counselor, clin-
I want to be clearer about my role, of Business. He has held numerous ical director, researcher, and
so I can perform it better. I want senior executive positions in high- well-traveled trainer and
everyone who needs SMART tech companies, with emphasis on consultant. He has authored or co-
Recovery® to know about us and management, marketing, sales, authored more than 270 articles,
have access to a meeting. I want to customer support, and product monographs, and research reports,
contribute to SMART Recovery® as management. as well as 13 books. His book,
a global entity. I want to help Slaying the Dragon: The History of
A former resident of
change the world!” Addiction Treatment and Recovery in
Massachusetts, Stephen has recently
At the end of the official settled in Atlanta, Georgia, to enjoy America, received the McGovern
meeting we each made a commit- his retirement. Family Foundation Award for the
ment to activities we would be best book on addiction recovery.
Stephen has actively served as a
engaging in back home. You are Bill was featured in the Bill
volunteer for a variety of non-
likely already seeing some of these Moyers’ PBS special, “Close To
profits, including homeless shelters,
commitments in action. On behalf Home: Addiction in America,”
schools for disadvantaged children,
of the Board and the entire and Showtime’s documentary,
and a children’s cancer and
SMART Recovery® organization, “Smoking, Drinking, and Drugging
leukemia program. His interests
thanks to all who made the effort in the 20th Century.”
include bridge, cooking, travel, and
to attend and contribute! Bill’s sustained contributions to
golf. His interest in travel has taken
him to several dozen countries the field have been acknowledged by
throughout the world. awards from the National
Association of Addiction Treatment
The Board looks forward to the
Providers, the National Council on
many insights and ideas Stephen’s
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence,
expertise will provide!
NAADAC: The Association of
Addiction Professionals, the
American Society of
Welcome Bill White, Addiction Medicine, and
Our Newest Member the Native American
of the International Wellbriety Movement. The
Johnson Institute has just
Advisory Council published Bill’s widely read
SMART Progress SMART Recovery® is papers on recovery advo-
pleased to announce cacy in a book titled Let’s Go
a new addition to our Make Some History: Chronicles
Welcome Stephen Baxter, International of the New Addiction Recovery
Our Newest Board Member Advisory Council. Advocacy Movement.
Effective December 29th, the William L. White is a
SMART Recovery® Board of Senior Research Consultant at
Directors warmly welcomed Stephen Chestnut Health Systems /
Paul Baxter for a two-year term on Lighthouse Institute and past-
the Board of Directors. chair of the board of Recovery
Communities United. Bill has a
approached us. With the support training in SMART Recovery® and
from St Vincent’s Hospital, will attend SMART Recovery®
SMART Recovery® moved to its groups when they are released. This
new location at Haymarket in the means that more SMART
Sydney Central Business District. Recovery® groups will be needed in
Josette Freeman and Jim the communities to assist these
Villamor are the coordinators of the people. The inmates’ feedback
program. Both Josette and Jim about the SMART Recovery®
program has been very positive.
International Development worked for SMART Recovery® at
St Vincent’s and were eager to take In other exciting news, SMART
on the challenge. Recovery® Australia has been recog-
News from Australia SMART Recovery® Australia nized by the Department of Health
It is a very exciting time in as a suitable self-help CBT treat-
has spent the last three months
Australia, because SMART ment program in New South Wales.
re-establishing itself in the
Recovery® Australia is now a not- This means that we will have the
community and reaching out to
for-profit, charity organization. Department’s backing, which adds
some rural country towns that are
SMART Recovery® had a two- more credibility to the program in
in desperate need of a drug and
year grant from the AERF Australia.
alcohol self help program.
(Alcohol Education
Recently, Josette and Jim travelled There is a very strong interest
Rehabilitation Foundation),
to Bourke, NSW. Bourke has a in SMART Recovery® and we are
which expired in December 2006.
high indigenous population and all very excited about its expan-
During this two-year period
SMART groups would benefit the sion and increased ability to assist
SMART Recovery® managed to
community in many ways. the many communities
set up 45 groups in New South
The Corrective Services in throughout the country. In 2008,
Wales (NSW). This June, a
NSW, Queensland, and Tasmania Josette and Jim will visit
private benefactor, who wanted to
have adopted SMART Recovery® Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth
assist the organization fulfill its
as their main CBT program for to assist with getting SMART
goal of going nationwide and
inmates with a drug and alcohol groups established.
providing SMART Recovery®
groups throughout Australia, offense. Inmates will receive If you plan to visit Australia,
please contact
both Josette and
SMART Recovery ® Program Tools & Techniques Jim, because we’d
like to show you
The SMART Recovery® 4-Point ProgramSM employs a Participants are our beautiful
variety of tools and techniques to help individuals encouraged to learn country. We are
gain independence from addictive behavior. how to use each tool wishing everyone
• Change Plan Worksheet a safe and happy
and to practice the
• Cost/Benefit Analysis New Year.
tools and techniques
These • ABCs of REBT (Rational Emotive as they progress
Behavior Therapy) for Urge Coping
toward Point 4 of the
tools • ABCs of REBT for Emotional Upsets
• DISARM (Destructive Images Self-talk program—achieving
include: Awareness and Refusal Method) lifestyle balance and
• Brainstorming leading a fulfilling
• Role-playing and Rehearsing and healthy life.
SMART IdeasDevelopment
International Continued Continued
Further gains in Scotland morning, and later in the morning

Dr. Sobell and I were interviewed
Office, to include an executive
director, an administrative assis-
by Tom Horvath, President, SMART Recovery
by a leading national paper, The tant, office space, travel expenses
On December 8th in Edinburgh I Scotsman. Both interviews and related costs. This is consis-
made a presentation on SMART focused on the kinds of innova- tent with one of their emerging
Recovery® to the Scottish Futures tions Dr. Sobell and I were there to recommendations, that as much as
Forum, a task force set up by the discuss, in particular consideration possible of the responsibility for
Scottish Parliament to propose of harm reduction and how to recovery be allowed to remain
improvements in that nation’s promote self-change (especially with the client.
response to substance addiction. using SMART Recovery®). The Scottish Parliament is a
The day also included two Scotland has a national health dramatically modern concrete,
presentations by Linda Sobell, service. Most industrialized glass and wood structure set in a
Ph.D., internationally recognized nations except the US also have city of old (and some very old)
addiction scien- one. In stone buildings, including
tist and member Scotland the Edinburgh Castle, some of whose
of the SMART universal avail- components date from the 1200s.
Recovery® ability of There was no shortage of rain
International SMART and wind, temperatures just above
Advisory Council, Recovery® freezing, or darkness, with usable
on motivational would be a daylight available only from about
interviewing and cost-saving 8:30am to 3:30pm. Perhaps
self-change, and option for the related, there is no shortage of
an update and dialogue on the government. Individuals who pubs either. It is estimated that in
Futures Forum proposal thus far might otherwise seek services Scotland there are 1 million (of 5
and plans for its completion. The might find sufficient help by million) with some level of
dialogue included Dr. Sobell, attending SMART Recovery®. alcohol problems, and over 50,000
Fraser Ross, Executive Director Individuals who might seek after- individuals with serious other drug
SMART Recovery® UK, myself, care services might find SMART problems.
Recovery® sufficient for that
and four Futures Forum staff. The In Inverness, where Fraser lives,
purpose. Furthermore, 12-step
Futures Forum is having monthly I got to meet some of the local
groups do not have the wide-
meetings such as this one, over facilitators. They have effectively
spread acceptance that they have
the course of a year, in prepara- established SMART Recovery®
in the US, and SMART
tion for releasing their locally and woven it into local
Recovery® is highly compatible
recommendations this summer. treatment services. I also got to
with the services addiction clients
have an extended discussion with
The Futures Forum had gone to typically receive in Scotland.
Chris Darges, SMART Recovery®
some expense to get both Dr. With these facts in mind I
UK board member, and briefer
Sobell and I there for the day, and suggested to the Futures Forum
they fortunately were able to discussions with Ian Smiley, board
that one of their recommenda-
leverage our presence. The Futures president, and Anni Stonebridge,
tions be that Scotland completely
Forum director and I had a brief a former board member still active
fund the existence of a Scottish
BBC Scotland radio interview that with us.
SMART Recovery® Central
straightforward, but no work by
SMART IdeasDevelopment
International Continued Continued Stanton Peele is without what
Book Review some will see as controversial
It is hard for me to imagine a issues. An example is his sugges-
better host than Fraser Ross. He tion to allow children to consume
efficiently oversaw both my visit a moderate amount of alcohol
and Dr. Sobell’s, and gracefully during family dinners as a way to
managed changing situations model and encourage responsible
including late flights and multiple alcohol use. He cautions,
airports. If there are 5 million however, against doing so if there
Scots, Fraser seems to know half is a family history of addiction
of them. His warm and friendly
Addiction-Proof Your Child and if the children have
by Stanton Peele, PhD, JD emotional problems. Peele offers
nature is becoming known to the
rest. We had a continuous feeling Reviewed by Rich Dowling, MA, readers methods for “helping chil-
of being among friends. I stayed a LPC, MAC, Founding Board dren limit the damage of negative
day after Dr. Sobell left, and Member, SMART Recovery®, & behaviors, keeping them safe so
Fraser gave me a tour of the Owner, The Thought ExchangeSM they have the chance to outgrow
countryside. In the evening I got Center for Personal Achievement those behaviors.” This harm
to have dinner prepared by his reduction idea addresses the fact
In his latest book, Addiction-Proof
wife Shirley. As previous SMART that some children will use
Your Child, addiction specialist,
Recovery® visitors to Scotland alcohol and other drugs despite a
lawyer, and author, Stanton
can verify (this lists includes Joe parent’s best efforts to encourage
Peele, states that “the ultimate
Gerstein, Michler Bishop, goal (of parenting) is that your otherwise.
Jonathan von Breton, Tom children find meaning in life and In Chapter Two, Peele declares
Litwicki, Barry Grant and seek positive activity and accom- what unfortunately is controver-
Bronwyn Crosby, as well as plishment.” He wrote this book sial in America: “Accuracy and
previous visits by Linda Sobell), a not to scare, but to empower relevance are critical elements of
delicious dinner at the Ross home parents as they try to balance successful drug education.” His
is a highlight of any visit. protectiveness with fostering use, however, of the labels
I expect we will be hearing independence in their offspring. “addict” and “alcoholic,” and the
more good news from Scotland. I It is that responsibility Peele phrase “alcohol and drugs,” may
look forward to visiting again, considers “the most essential task partly contradict his declaration.
possibly as soon as this summer, in combating addiction in chil- The term “alcohol and drugs”
when the Futures Forum releases dren.” While he acknowledges implies that alcohol is not a drug,
its recommendations. In the “there is no easy formula,” Peele and it can imply that alcohol is
meantime we will be in commu- offers sound advice, largely based less harmful than other drugs. In
nication with them, hoping to on solid, scientific research. As Chapter Two, Peele accurately
establish Scotland as a demon- well, he warns readers to avoid states, “Regular heavy drinking by
stration of what an entire relying solely on those who claim youngsters in the United States is
national recovery system can look to be “experts.” much more a problem than
like when SMART Recovery® is Peele considers individuals drugs.”
fully integrated within it. “addicted” when their use of Labels such as “alcoholic” and
mind-altering substances, or “addict” are overgeneralizations and
involvement in certain activities, can cause harm because people
“…seriously detract(s) from their identify themselves with the labels,
ability to function…” This seems which can set up self-fulfilling
choose. Perhaps they can change
SMART
Book Review
Ideas Continued
Continued their circumstances, perhaps not.
They can always change the way
prophecies. However, Peele does discussions of treatment models and they relate to their circumstances.
encourage parents to avoid creating the ever increasing use of medica- Even if we cannot immediately
“self-fulfilling prophecies” and offers tions for children showing signs of change the frequency, intensity,
them ways to avoid doing so. He addiction. He describes treatment and duration of urges, for example,
also teaches readers to use the models that prove most effective, we can choose not to act on them.
terms, abuse and dependence, noting that research clearly shows As a practical matter of fact, when
which refer to behavioral criteria traditional options do little good. He urges are not acted on, then over
rather than to labels. points out that most people gain time they tend to reduce in
This informative and encour- independence from addictions on frequency, intensity, and dura-
aging book offers realistic help for their own. With regards to medica- tion, such that they may not
parents who want to prevent tions, he cautions that many of these occur for months or years. So,
addiction in children or who want drugs “haven’t been studied for the urges can be changed eventually,
to seek treatment for children conditions for which they are if not immediately.
who do show signs of addiction. prescribed.” We don’t HAVE TO change.
Through case histories and rele- On the whole, Addiction-Proof Your Continuing as we are is a choice
vant information, Peele shows Child is an excellent, readable the universe allows us to make.
how different parenting styles can resource for conscientious parents This is important because the more
affect the emotional health of and professionals, and I recommend we pound ourselves, or others, with
children, and in the case of three it highly. More of Dr. Stanton HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO
of them, increase children’s Peele’s professional expertise is change, the more we feel like slaves
susceptibility to emotional distress available at www.peele.net. to change rather than people exer-
and addiction. He explains why cising free choice. And, who wants
permissive, neglectful, and author- to feel like a slave?! We may not be
itarian parenting styles easily free to avoid the consequences of
increase that susceptibility. our actions, but we are free to
Permissive parents allow chil- choose the actions we take.
dren “to do pretty much what Of course, to achieve certain
they want”; neglectful parents things, there are other things that
generally don’t know what their SMART Ideas have to be done. To get paid, you
children are doing; and authori- (mostly) have to go to work. Keep
tarian parents are over involved chasing down “to get this, you
and over directive, telling their have to do that,” and eventually
children how to think and react. you arrive at something you
Peele promotes “authoritative” WANT. And, you do not HAVE
parenting as most appropriate,
Change or Suffer: TO get what you WANT! An
because it allows for “independ- The Choice Is Up to You unfortunate fact of life? You bet!
ence of thought and action,” by Hank Robb, PhD, ABPP And a fact of life nonetheless.
while expressing “unconditional I think the title of this article is a Choosing to have what we
love for (the) child and estab- good description of SMART want in life is a choice we some-
lishing clear boundaries.” Recovery®’s philosophy. Individuals times do have, but not always. We
Other facets of “addiction- can continue as they have been, or may be able to choose a neighbor-
proofing children” Peele covers are they can change, and they get to hood, or a dwelling, in which we
SMART Ideas Continued
actually want to live. But who this was a program that offered a have something useful to share
chooses to have urges to act methodology that I could feel once they become acclimated to
addictively? Hardly anyone! comfortable with and worked for me. the group.
However, a choice that is always I have attended the same SMART Recovery® provides a
available is to relate to life in one SMART Recovery meeting for
®
toolbox of concepts to work with.
way rather than another. If your over 19 These include
current way of relating brings months. I have the ABC’s (also
more suffering than you want, continued Articles are Welcome!
known as the
then change or continue suffering. because it If you have a story or informa- ACB’s). The
The choice is up to you. provides me tion you would like to see ABC’s are a way
some reassur- published in the News & Views, to write down
ance about please feel free to submit a your beliefs and
What SMART Recovery® Has where I am copy to Emmett Velten, how those
Meant to Me…or How I Gave now in my life. Editor, via email: beliefs can lead
It also gives me ev_verb@msn.com. Unsolicited to addictive
Up Hangovers and Poor Sleep the opportunity material is most welcome! behaviors. It
by Rick in Oregon
to give back to then challenges
I attended, somewhat reluctantly, new people you to dispute
my first SMART Recovery® what I received when I started those beliefs leading to one’s
meeting in early April 2006. I coming to the meetings. It is a downfall.
immediately felt at ease with the very positive place to be when Another useful tool is the cost-
people and the two facilitators. I you can reassure others that there benefit analysis. This is a way to
had never been to any group to are attainable goals, and where list long-term harms of addictive
deal with addictive behaviors. I
was not totally ready to deal with
mine at that time. Over time This was the most useful tool for me. Once I was
that changed as I learned to
apply the tools that SMART
able to compare the “pleasures” and
Recovery® offered, and as I “justifications” for what I was doing with the
adapted to the group. I first came benefits of not doing so, it became readily apparent
to please someone else and ended
that it was not worth it to continue
up pleased with myself.
If I had to face up to my situa-
tion it needed to be done you can tell them what you have behaviors and compare them to
through a system that used scien- learned and used. I find it very the short term “benefits” of those
tific reasoning and internal will useful to be able to share infor- behaviors. This was the most
power. For me, faith-based mation and to have a discussion useful tool for me. Once I was
programs held little or no appeal. of people’s issues and thoughts. A able to compare the “pleasures”
I do not believe that one shoe system that moves from anec- and “justifications” for what I was
fits all. I had, however, found my dotal to shared input is doing with the benefits of not
shoe with SMART Recovery®, as invaluable. Most people seem to doing so, it became readily
apparent that it was not worth it 9th Circuit Rules Government to prison, where he died. The
to continue. Armed with these case has been remanded back to
tools I was able to make some Officials Personally Liable for the district court to determine
rational choices in my life. When Mandated 12-step Attendance damages.
I would have an urge I would by Tom Horvath
The ruling is divided into
think about the cost-benefit Background, Analysis and
Reprinted by permission from the
analysis, and this would help me
newsletter of the Division on Conclusion. From the Analysis:
say no to the urge and help let it
Addictions of the American “This case comes to us on a grant
pass. There have been many
Psychological Association (Div. 50) of summary judgment...and we
occasions over the last year
In September the 9th Circuit must make all inferences of fact
where it would have been easy
ruled 3-0 that the unconstitution- in favor of the nonmoving party,
for me to justify a drink or two
ality of government mandated Inouye...we assume that Inouye’s
based on my old ways of
12-step attendance is clearly estab- participation [in] the AA/NA
thinking. These tools helped me
lished and therefore a government program was a compulsory condi-
through these times. After a
official who mandates 12-step tion of parole. Inouye had
while it didn’t take much to get
attendance to any person is person- objected in advance of parole to
past any temptations or to
ally liable for damages. The ruling such a program but was assigned
dispute my old irrational beliefs.
extends rulings beginning in 1996, to participate in one anyway, and
I have reached the point where
by the 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 8th circuit was also “ordered” to continue in
drinking holds no appeal to me. I
courts, as well as by several state the program after threatening to
have been around people who are
supreme courts. These rulings were sue program officials. There is no
drinking and find myself to be
all based on findings that AA and evidence that Inouye was ever
more bemused by their conduct
other 12-step groups are religious told that he had a choice of
than anything else. As time has
enough that mandated attendance programs. Under these circum-
gone by, I have been intrigued by
violates the establishment clause of stances, a jury could infer that
how little I miss it—and I
the constitution’s first amendment participation was coerced rather
thought I would never want to,
(“Congress shall pass no law than voluntary… Nanamori does
or be able, to quit.
respecting an establishment of reli- not argue that ordering Inouye to
I know my experiences are gion, or prohibit the free expression participate in a religion-based
unique, but I believe that the thereof”), popularly referred to as drug treatment program was
SMART Recovery® program the “separation of church and constitutional. Instead, his
contains useful tools for almost state.” defense, accepted by the district
anyone who is struggling with
The 9th circuit ruling is the court, is that the law on the
addictive or compulsive behav-
first to set aside a government matter was not clearly established
iors. While a different type of
official’s qualified immunity from at the time he supervised Inouye’s
program may suit some people
liability in this area. The case parole and that he, therefore, is
better, I think even they could
involved Inouye, a Buddhist and immune from suit. We hold, on
gain some valuable insight from
parolee, who refused to attend the contrary, that the law was and
SMART Recovery®.
AA/NA meetings. Because of is very clear, precluding qualified
this refusal, his parole officer, immunity, and on that ground
Nanamori, ordered Inouye back reverse the district court.”
In a footnote to the Conclusion if 12-step based treatment or better life, then I can be satisfied!
(#16) the court also raises the group attendance were ruled to be It would be worth my time and
question of whether allowing 12- not allowable for complying with energy. By volunteering, I
step attendance to fulfill a support this mandate? Given that criminal “hammered the tools” into my
group attendance mandate is justice referrals to the US addic- mind because I repeated them so
unconstitutional: “We do not tion treatment system are a major often for other people! And it is
decide when, if at all, non-coer- source of clients, this ruling and pretty hard to recommend tools if
cive endorsement or possible subsequent rulings have I have not used them myself! So
encouragement of participation in the potential to dramatically alter that meant I would be learning
AA/NA or other religion-based the size (up or down) and orienta- and using the tools first and fore-
programs is unconstitutional or tion of the system. most for mySELF. If you don’t
when, if ever, a parole officer believe in the tools, just try them!
simply allowing or encouraging, SELF Enlightened Interest
but not requiring, such participa- Volunteer Rewards involves our focusing on
As posted on the SMART Recovery® message boards in
tion would lose qualified ourSELVES and the goal of living
November 2007 by Yesterdaywas
immunity.” a more satisfying life
Full text of the case, Inouye v. Hi everyone! for ourselves, but
Nanamori, #06-15474, filed One of the when you do so, it
September 7, 2007, is at things some of us
I figured if goes full circle:
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newo take advantage of I can assist others gain from it.
pinions.nsf/ is the option of In turn, we gain from
Commentary: There is a large volunteering at just one their satisfaction, and
potential impact of this ruling. In SMART Recovery® person in back it comes to us,
many areas non-12-step treatment Online. I have because a small part
and/or support groups may not be found it a useful finding a way of the world is a
tool for my own
available. Will these alternative
recovery.
to a better happier place and
that is good for us.
programs become available
quickly enough? Who will staff It feels good to life, then I We are better exam-
ples for our children,
them, and how well? Would greet people here,
take responsibility
can be too. Showing my son
“equal protection under the law”
(the 14th Amendment) require in a sense and give satisfied! I can make mistakes,
the government to provide alter- a little back of change my life
native programs if requested, just what I got. And it’s around and donate
as it provides a public defender for important to help my time, also helps
those who cannot afford an SMART Recovery® continue to him live better.
attorney? Would courts decide to thrive so it can remain an option I found once I was on pretty
stop mandating treatment and/or for people. I remember a little of solid ground with recovery that I
support groups rather than face what a horrid, shattered life a could be more generous with
the current or potential require- person can be living upon arrival others. In other words “I got out
ments of this decision, particularly here. I figured if I can assist just of myself” because I was living
one person in finding a way to a better than I had in years. It
the chat room was charming and
SMART Ideas Continued delightful, and we are so lucky to
have had these folks establish this
wasn’t all about me anymore. In http://smartrecovery.org/vol/volun- wonderful place for all of us,
my case, using drugs was a very teerdesc.htm. There are different members, volunteers, and f2f
selfish act. Giving of my time, ways you can volunteer here. I facilitators alike!
knowledge, and experience wish you all the best with your From Arby:
rewards me with further satisfac- recovery and your lives. It was both an honor and a
tion. I have been a volunteer I would love to hear what other pleasure to have been at the SOL
almost four years at SMART volunteers get from their volun- 9th birthday celebration. It was
Online, and I can truly say it has teering. special to me too, for nine years
been an excellent tool for my own ago I wasn’t even thinking, nor
Jump in—the water is fine!
recovery. had any idea, that from that very
And enjoy!
You could ask, “SMART first meeting our Ville would
Recovery® is all about learning the have grown into the metropolis
tools, changing our behaviors, and that it has now become. SOL
moving on, so why don’t you had, and still, holds a very
graduate?” People Power special place in my heart. For it
was on these shores I learned to
Actually, I graduated a long
challenge my thinking (beliefs)
time ago! Graduating does not
and made room in my SELF to
necessarily mean leaving alto-
CHANGE. I’m so very fortunate
gether! The old me seems very
to have had such wonderful
remote nowadays. I don’t stay “out
teachers along the way
of fear” for my own recovery, but
(Do=path), with folks like Betty,
rather coming here has become a
Skywiz, Marky, and my old friend
part of what I do, a VACI. A life
Rooken, and so many others that
enhancing tool. I think giving Founding Members of to name them all would more
feels better to the givers than the
receivers! And working here as a
SMART Recovery® Online (SOL) than fill these pages.
volunteer has given me a great Share Thoughts I want y’all to know that even
by Dee, SOL Volunteer though I may be scarce around
many opportunities to practice
frustration tolerance and We were privileged to have two of the Ville these days, every
self/other/life acceptance, which our founding SOL members, Arby person, volunteer, and member of
helps me. I love watching others and Betty, join the 9th SOL continues the “legacy” of
take control in their lives. anniversary celebration of SOL the grass roots movement that
for our ending extravaganza. It was started on Oct. 16, 1998.
It is great to be part of a team,
in this case the SOL Team!.... a was so nice to be able to hear I respectfully ask of you to
their perceptions and their please never forget the inner
place that helps others help
descriptions of what SOL has strength, the power of the people,
themselves. A place that affects
meant to them over the years. We and that little grass roots move-
lives and betters the world.
obtained their permission to ment that laid the structural
If you think volunteering might excerpt a few of their very foundation that lives deep within
appeal to you, check out this link: gracious comments, after-the-fact. SMART Recovery® OnLine still
The time they spent with us in today. If you listen closely to the
SMARTPower
People Ideas Continued
Continued
A River – © B. M. Wlodyka
Make sure you keep your eye on the (a.k.a. online as Betty)
prize that IS you. Enjoy the feelings Once, when I was so many pieces
O So many pieces I was O Like
of belonging, but don’t deny water that was rain O I was tears
extending them well out beyond the before I came O To this river. O
And then as we’d found O Our
city limits when you’re ready. ways O On different days O To
this place that became O This
great river O We came together O
lyrics that Betty wrote, to “A I remember feeling … as though Yes, so slow O Came together to
River,” you’ll perhaps better belonging to “something” was very help O Grow O This river O
understand that most all lives are important to me. I think Arby’s When this river’s moving O Slow
“A River” — a river, that just words are gentle and well spoken. O Get on your knees (Note: a
doesn’t end. SOL offers a safe Make sure you keep your eye on reflection reference not a religious
harbor to any and all who wish to the prize that IS you. Enjoy the one) O Look down and know O
drop anchor in that harbor on feelings of belonging, but don’t What you’ll hear O Behind the
their river of life, and for that I deny extending them well out face you’ll O See below O Listen
will ALWAYS be thankful. Thank beyond the city limits when you’re well O So you can be O All you
you for everything you’ve given to ready. You and I, all of us… we searched for O Now you’ll see O
SOL over the years. And thanks belong everywhere we are. Was with you all the while O You
so very much for thinking about I’m so glad I was able to partici- journeyed wide O Seeking out O
me, folks! I appreciate it greatly!! pate in the celebration. I enjoyed While you kept it O Deep inside.
Respectfully, seeing Randy and anticipating O When you rise up from the O
Randy a.k.a. Arby how he’d reply—and being right! River O Look around O And then
It felt good to believe I still know deliver O To the outside O What
From Betty:
him. We old timers are still on you have found O Within. O For
Oh, now this IS just like old
our individual rafts on the river surely O You can mend O And
times…. Feeling that when one of
and sometimes we drift down- offer to a friend O And in that O
the members of the former
stream and away from each other, We’re a river O A river O That
steering committee spoke it was
only to come round a bend and just O Won’t end.
almost ALWAYS something that I
find one hauled up on a bar (sand,
could resonate with… Randy has
that is!). The memories of
spoken for me as well… I couldn’t
have said it better myself. (But of
SMART are highly concentrated I use iGive.com for all my online
in my life… I just add each new
course I CAN’T shut up easily.)
day to them and they go a long,
shopping, and I suggest that you
It was wonderful to visit long way. do, too!
SMARTcity (I used to call it Charlie, SMART Recovery®
Much Love and Light,
SMARTville), but it has grown OnLine volunteer here, inviting
Betty
out on the edges… but please you to change YOUR online
don’t get a WAL-SMART! Note: The lyrics to the song A shopping into support for a truly
River follow… worthy cause.
SMARTPower
Continued
I’m supporting SMART NBC, Drugstore.com, Orvis, numerous copies of the book on
Recovery® just by shopping online Hallmark, Staples, and more! cassette to SMART Recovery®.
for brand-name stuff at over 684 JOIN NOW! The books on tape will be
well-known online stores. And Use this link www.iGive.com/SMART provided to inmates via Books
I’m getting free deals and coupons and join with SMART Recovery® Behind Bars & Beyond. Many
just by being an iGive.com already selected as the cause you’ll readers of Sober for Good have
member. support. begun participating in the
If you join iGive.com and make SMART Recovery® program
MORE INCENTIVES: based on this excellent book.
a purchase within 45 days from • 1ST TIME BUYER DEALS worth
one of 684 or so participating hundreds of dollars Thank you Houghton Mifflin for
stores, iGive.com will donate $5 this generous donation!
• EXCELLENT PRICES and exclusive
FREE to your favorite worthy deals for members
cause!
HOW IT WORKS
• FREE SHIPPING offers from great
stores
SMART Recovery® Attends
1. Join to Support SMART • VIRTUAL KARMA from supporting Compulsive Gambling Conference
Recovery®! It’s FREE, private, & YOUR favorite cause by Rich Dowling, MA, LPC, MAC
easy. www.iGive.com/SMART • $5 FREE donation when you shop SMART Recovery® was repre-
2. Shop the Mall at iGive.com - within 45 days! sented at the 8th Annual NCRG
You’ll see familiar stores like I hope to see you at iGive.com Conference on Gambling and
Lands’ End, Office Depot, soon! Addiction: Responsible Gaming,
JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, Regulation and Recovery: Testing
Charlie
Expedia, Barnes & Noble, and Conventional Wisdom.
eBay to mention just a few! P.S. iGive.com would like you to
The conference, co-sponsored
know that all the causes at
3. Watch the $$ roll in for by Harvard Medical School and
iGive.com have been listed by
SMART Recovery! Up to 26% of the National Center for
members for their own and others’
EACH purchase gets donated…and Responsible Gaming (NCRG),
benefit. They don’t endorse the
it costs you nothing! was held November 11-12, 2007
causes, and the causes don’t
Use this link to JOIN FOR at the Paris Las Vegas in Las
endorse them. But I DO! So,
FREE and begin supporting Vegas, Nevada. Say what? A
c’mon, click on that link above.
SMART Recovery®: compulsive gambling conference
www.iGive.com/SMART in the gambling capital of the
world? Following my initial
GREAT STORES AT iGIVE.COM Sober for Good to Books surprise, I found the location to
And just in case you’re thinking,
oh yeah, who wants to buy some-
Behind Bars & Beyond be very appropriate to the
In the Spring ’07 issue of purpose.
thing from Never-heard-of-it.com,
SMART Recovery® News &
here are just a few of iGive.com’s A description of SMART
Views, we acquainted readers with
684+ stores: Office Depot, Lands’ Recovery® was given in the
BBB&B. We are delighted to
End, JCPenney, PETsMART, conference brochure and a room
report that Houghton Mifflin,
Expedia.com, Gap, Barnes & was provided for a SMART
publisher of Anne Fletcher’s Sober
Noble, Neiman Marcus, Best Buy, Recovery® “Meeting.” Six people
for Good has kindly donated
Dell, Vitamin Shoppe, QVC, Shop took advantage of the opportunity
traditional use of InsideOut®. But,
SMARTPower
Continued Nick notes that this is what
makes the InsideOut® program at
TCCC unique and says, “The
to learn about and discuss the Prison Outreach focus of this program is to
SMART Recovery® model and its
application to addictions, empower people, so they can be in
including gambling. The partici- control of their behavior and their
pants included individuals from lives. InsideOut®’s versatility
South Africa, England, Jamaica, makes it easy for them to receive
Las Vegas, and Wisconsin. Those effective treatment, even though
InsideOut® — A Profile it is outpatient.”
interested in starting groups were
referred to SMART Recovery® in Success: Tri-County Naturally, Nick has nothing but
Headquarters and www.smartre- Community Corrections great things to say about
covery.org for further information. InsideOut® has always been a InsideOut®. The participants feel
The conference was topnotch program that sought to empower the same way. Many of them go
in every way, providing attendees people. Inner personal strength into the program angry and bitter,
with the latest research outcomes and proper decision-making are at but Nick says that the InsideOut®
for preventing and treating the core of its message: teaching approach, one that teaches under-
compulsive gambling disorders people how to make the right the standing and empowerment,
with CBT showing the most decisions and not telling them leaves participants believing they
promise. The organizers are to be what to do. can lead better lives. He recalls
commended!! Additional infor- Nick Rajacic, LCSW, an many participants commonly
mation can be found at: InsideOut® facilitator at Tri- saying, “I didn’t want to be here
www.divisiononaddictions.org/insti- County Community Corrections at first, but I found that I learned
tute and www.ncrg.org. (TCCC) in Houghton, Michigan, a lot of valuable information and
sees first-hand the positive effects actually liked going through the
that come with this type program.” It shows. The recidi-
approach. He has been an vism is down in the Tri-County
InsideOut® facilitator since its region, the very goal that
inception in 2002 and has helped InsideOut® seeks. Much of that is
dozens of people change their due to Nick and the great work he
beliefs and behavior. At Tri- has done to help people develop
County Community Corrections, rational, constructive control of
a correctional institution that their lives.
provides community service work, The work at Tri-County
rehabilitation and other commu- Community Corrections is a great
nity-based programs, Nick has example of how InsideOut® can
adapted InsideOut® to the needs effectively help parolees develop
Rich Dowling representing of the facility. rational decision-making. If you
SMART Recovery® at the event. have any questions about the
A court order, which is part of
probation, assigns most of the InsideOut® program or you would
people who enter any of the like more information about this
programs at TCCC. As a result, article, please contact Tyler
the participants receive outpatient Achilles at (617) 614-0376 or
tachilles@inflexxion.com.
treatment, which strays from the
SMARTOutreach
Prison Ideas Continued
Continued
Beyond the Walls If an urge pushes one toward the result of a belief about a given
impulsive reactions, then would it stimulus. Understanding this can
The 4-Point Focus: Challenging Irrational
not stand to reason that a rational help reduce the perception that
Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
by Barry A. Grant system of belief could be adopted to someone or something is causing a
counteract self-destructive, defeatist disturbance within us. It is highly
Of the many challenging endeavors thinking and behavior, thereby re- unlikely that we can solve a
people undertake, one that appears “versing” that process in such a problem with the mindset with
to be the most demanding is to go way that it encourages a healthy which we caused it. A problem is
beyond a constructed belief system lifestyle? That is what Coping with only as big as we ourselves make it.
supported by vague and oftentimes Urges by using our DISARM tool As stated previously, any prin-
irrational evidence. All too often, is about. In short, it is listening to ciple taken to the extreme results
these mental models are based what you tell yourself about your- in error, which segues right into the
upon something or someone we self, especially when those Lifestyle Balance of SMART
allowed to have power over us in messages take you to places you Recovery®. The very fact that I can
an attempt to avoid taking respon- don’t want to be, keep you there revisit this illustrates the flexible
sibility for our own thoughts, for longer than you intended to use of SMART Recovery®’s 4-point
feelings, and behaviors. stay, and cost much more than you focus. Being alert in the here and
The energy and persistence of a were ever willing to pay. now for the purpose of achieving
truly motivated an evidenced-based
person are philosophy of life
marvelous. The The energy and persistence of a truly allows us to be
work such a person constant collectors
does can be almost motivated person are marvelous. The work of new informa-
rapturous in its such a person does can be almost tion. Furthermore,
focus and determi- our opinions, atti-
nation. This is rapturous in its focus and determination. tudes, and actions
what the first of the (the difference
4-Point focus of SMART For those who have been between an action and a reaction is
Recovery®, Building and following SMART Recovery® News thought) grow as we become flex-
Maintaining Motivation, is all & Views for some time, you may ible, thoughtful decision makers.
about. It surely is not from eating know that I have the justification The 4-Point Focus of SMART
breakfast cereal, sandwiches or for claiming that whether “Inside Recovery® can work with most
coffee yet those elements are inclu- The Walls” or “Beyond The other methods of recovering what
sive in our lives if we so choose. Walls,” there are almost always we had before lifestyle imbalance
Undoubtedly the ingredients are a things in life that we probably began to occur. The 4-Point Focus
part of life’s ongoing desire to would not prefer. That is where the of SMART Recovery® is invaluable
nurture the body and I suppose on
Problem Solving component proves in recovery from addictive behav-
some level a minimal desire to
to be of enormous value. It is iors and the shackles of irrational
satisfy the natural urges associated
important to remember that when thinking.
with social traditions and cultural
we choose our behavior we choose
norms. However, the caveat is that
our consequences. Moreover, at
“any principle taken to the extreme
root, a consequence simply means
results in error.”
3-Minute REBT
Developing a Passion
for Living
by Philip Tate, PhD
Author of Alcohol: How To Give It Up
and Be Glad You Did,
1996, See Sharp Press, Tucson, AZ.
In order to radically change your life, it helps to have a One way you can understand this is that it’s a medi-
passion. Passion is awareness, feeling, and action—a total tation on your daily life and actions. Meditation as it
involvement. usually taught is a specific activity developed aside from
Passion is not pleasure—a delight that can be sustained day to day activities. You read a book, go to a guru,
and enhanced by thought. Sexual pleasure, for instance, come home, sit quietly and focus on a word, a sound, or
can be enhanced by exciting thoughts, or thoughts of a an object. That practice is an escape from living and
novel partner, etc. Instead, it is an involvement where our not an involvement.
attention, actions, and their consequences are the The meditation that I am suggesting is simply a greater
fulfilling qualities. awareness of your actions and what is going on that entails
Thinking can interfere. Have you ever focused on a a greater ability to see yourself and the world as you are and
task when you were completely absorbed and unaware of not as you think you are.
both time and yourself? When you do this, what happens Do you have to spend a lot of time learning how to
when you start thinking? Don’t you become more focus? No, you can do it now. As a matter of fact, if you
detached? If there was any joy before, didn’t your attend to what you are reading now with a mind unclut-
thinking destroy it? tered by thoughts, you gain more. You may learn something
Where can you start? What better place than your new as represented by the ideas presented here. The ideas
daily living? themselves are not what you want to learn, but the facts
they represent.
Most of the time we go about our days doing ordinary
necessary activities with the clamor of thoughts going Would you like to create a passionate interest in life that
through our heads. Not only are these thoughts unneces- is beyond your ordinary day to day activities?
sary, they detract from our activities. Then develop an absorbing hobby, do volunteer work,
What can you do? Concentrate, which is the deliberate or get a job that you find interesting. Throw yourself into
exclusion of distractions, including distracting thoughts. it. And maintain the same approach: one of attention to
Then, allow your entire existence to be awareness of what what is happening and reacting to what you see more
you are doing. than what you think.
Featured Quote of this Issue

If your current way of relating brings more suffering than you want, then change or continue suffering.
Hank Robb
©2008 ADASHN, Inc., 7537 Mentor Avenue, Suite #306, Mentor, OH 44060, all rights reserved.
All statements regarding self-help in this newsletter are the views of the author and are not an official endorsement
of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Self-Help Network, Inc.

Winter 2008 News&Views

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Winter 2008 News&Views

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tives, with six (Michler Bishop, number of us enjoyed, through the

The Center is owned and oper-

Further gains in Scotland morning, and later in the morning

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