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Addiction Treatment Business

Bob Dylan

The Times They Are A Changin’… Bob Dylan

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A NEW DISCIPLINE IS ON IT’S WAY

This is required reading for all our FAVOR Greenville Staff.

Also the YouTurn Staff and Wellness Partners Staff….

AND MY KIDS…. Read this: ***

From Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Witmark Demo – 1963)

Come Mothers and Fathers – Throughout the Land
And Don’t Criticize – What You Can’t Understand
Your Sons and Your Daughters – Are Beyond Your Command

THINGS ARE A CHANGING

Things change whether we want them to or not. One can always lament the loss of the “good old days” and we love to talk about how much better things were “back in the day”.

We also apply revisionist history when discussing our systems and our institutions and conventional wisdom around how to best do life. Further complicating things is the psychological phenomenon of perceiving one’s personal experience as a universal fact.

PARENTING

Let’s examine parenting for example.

For some reason people wax nostalgic for the days when parents could beat the hell out of a kid and call it discipline rather than abuse.

Things are never as good as we remember them. Nostalgic misrepresentation.

Corporal punishment causes much more harm than good, overall. Statistically speaking.

When this topic (corporal punishment) is brought up someone will inevitably make the statement:

“My Dad beat my ass and thank God he did because I turned out the way I am cause he beat my ass”…..

FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS

This statement is flawed on 2 levels:

  • You assume we all want to turn out the way you did. You may have turned out to be an asshole and your report merely reinforces the fact that corporal punishment is a bad thing.
  • You assume that your experience in some way represents a universal fact applicable to the entirety of humanity. As if what worked for you (getting beat) will work for everyone. This is a very arrogant way of thinking.

Furthermore, I got my ass kicked on a regular basis and it sucked and it made my life horrible.

And by your logic…if your “experience” speaks for all of humanity…well then, my experience speaks for all of humanity as well.

This clearly violates the law of non-contradiction, therefore invalidating your original assumption that; “experience equals fact”.

EXPERIENCE DOES NOT EQUAL FACT

We can do so much better. WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EXPERIENCE DOES NOT EQUAL FACT.

We can embrace progress and we are allowed to change our mind.

We can risk bringing new ideas into our consciousness and we are permitted to have a different opinion from the group.

We can even debate difficult things without devolving into a childish fit of rage.

IT’S INEVITABLE

Progress and change is inevitable.

It’s coming fast and furious in all areas of life. All societal institutions are subject to be reconceived and reconstructured.

Education, healthcare, military and even the government (we will have more than 2 viable political parties in the near future) are going to overhaul.

If we base our opinion on our own personal experience, reinforced by the opinions of all the other people in our homogeneous tribe, we will resist change.

A ENTIRE COUNTRY IN PERIL

We will get steamrolled.

Technology is not slowing down. Problems are not going away.

Social problems, such as ever increasing overdose deaths and gun violence are not going to magically go away.

The crazy political turmoil and division,  the unprecedented suicide rates (both adolescent and adults) other substance misuse related deaths, and the unchecked mental health crisis are all “trending” in the wrong direction.

This will continue to escalate until our society responds with the full force and urgency consistent with a country in peril.

THE PAIN AND SUFFERING

“When the pain gets great enough” all solutions will be on the table.

“When the pain gets great enough”, “they” will have little concern what our personal experience was and what “tradition” dictates as a solution.

The pain is starting to get great enough!!!

Our beloved addiction treatment industry and recovery services system is going to change as well.

This includes the way we have structured and positioned “Recovery Coaching”.

THE HOLY GRAIL

The preoccupation with making peer support mimic clinical counseling has been part of the challenge and one of the reasons professional recovery support and coaching is not more widespread.

Recovery coaching as a branch of already existing services may help in some ways but it is not transformational.  It is an adjunct.  It’s not different enough.

The “Holy Grail” of a “reimbursable code”  so that recovery organizations can get reimbursed by medicaid and commercial insurance is a chimera.  Furthermore, why do we assume that reimbursement from the existing infrastructure will lead to scalable services?

QUESTION

Why does “Peer Recovery Support” or “Recovery Coaching” or whatever you want to call it,  automatically assume that the insurance reimbursed “Business Model” is the best model?

ANSWER – BECAUSE “THAT’S THE WAY CLINICAL TREATMENT IS REIMBURSED”?

For sure, some isolated organizations in select states will thrive under the current model.

There are some places where the state system is more amenable to supporting independent recovery support.

I believe South Carolina is going to be one of those places.

Furthermore, recovery coaching will continue to be promoted across the country.  But it won’t scale.

Because it’s not paid for by the public system in a manner that promotes growth.

IT’S NOT UNIQUE

Recovery coaching is not a desired service within the private marketplace (businesses, other enterprises, general consumers etc..) aside from some very isolated initiatives such as what we have developed here in Greenville, South Carolina.

But Greenville is just a small piece of the pie.

We want to see a nationwide sea change.  It’s difficult to say this but recovery coaching, on the whole, is not attractive enough to the private market to warrant widespread adoption.

Partly because it’s not unique.  It’s not differentiated.

CONSIDER THIS

  1. Why are all the “Recovery Coaching Training” curriculums essentially the same?
  2. Why do they so closely resemble many of the things we are taught in “Clinical Training”?

In addition to that, the overwhelming majority of people trained as “Recovery Coaches” across the country are not working.

NOTE: ARE WE CREATING A WORKFORCE FOR THE SAKE OF CREATING A WORKFORCE?

A NEW DISCIPLINE

In my realm of influence (FAVOR Greenville and beyond) “Recovery Coaching” will continue to be a core service.

We run recovery centers.  We facilitate all recovery meetings.  We provide one to one coaching.  We do outreach to treatment centers and detox programs.

Of course we will lean on this foundation.

In truth, the majority of our services will be traditional recovery coaching.  It works in these traditional environments. We do this very well and we are committed to continuing our efforts in this area.

20 MILLION PEOPLE

But there are 20 million people out there who are not into the “Traditional” environment.

They all deserve help!

They all deserve a “Solution”!

THEIR FAMILIES ALL DESERVE SOME HOPE.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Therefore, we need to devote a certain amount of time to “Research and Development” as well as “Product Innovation”.

We have developed another venture that will focus on these breakthroughs.

This company does not resemble anything you have previously seen in the recovery support services or addiction treatment space.

NOT ANOTHER REHAB BUSINESS

We aren’t getting into the rehab business (never again) or the recovery housing business or other typical programs that may expand our reach.

I respect those programs and I’ve worked in all those models.

However, it’s not my jam any more and it is not what our companies are focused on.

We are going to pivot to meet the demands of the market and respond to the customer.  We will listen to the customer.

First by identifying who our actual customer is.  Most assume it is the person in need.

But we know that’s ridiculous because the person in need is running from the service.

The customer is the family system (all individuals are part of a family system), the workplace, the school, the community etc…

We work from the customer out to the program.  Fit the program around the customer. Not the customer around the program.

We will develop a new product with the service to back it up and we will approach continuous improvement with the same zeal Zappos approaches “happiness”.

BENCHMARKS AND MENTORS

Our benchmarks and our mentors will come as much from the business world as the addiction treatment and recovery services world.  Actually, probably more from business.

We are obsessed with customer service.

A product and a service that will be judged based on the response from the customer.  Imagine that?

The market will guide our product and the associated service and we will invent a solution.

It will not be called Recovery Coaching so there will be no confusion.

SOMETHING NEW – NOT RECYCLED

Interestingly, the treatment infrastructure is likely to benefit from our efforts.

Since we are hell bent on differentiating ourselves from the historical solution we will go to great lengths to lean on our clinical partners.  We will work closely with clinical providers and partners to maximize the experience for the customer.

This includes private providers and public providers.  We want to strengthen our relationships with state systems.

However, this doesn’t mean we roll people into rehab over and over.

TREATMENT GOES WAY BEYOND REHAB

Our value add is the invention of a new product and service not the reapplication of a legacy product.

“Recovery Coaching” integrated with and supervised by clinical treatment staff is essentially the same as a “Behavioral Tech”.

Techs have existed for 50 years.

We want to provide something that produces ZERO confusion.  Something new…. not recycled.

Our clinical partners will thrive because of our venture into this brave new world.

I may even get invited back to the cool kids table at the annual conferences…..

NOW THAT’S AN OUTRAGEOUS IDEA!

RECOVERY COACHING NEEDS TO BE RE-EXAMINED

Remember, the current “recovery support system” was not ordained by God.

Relatively speaking, its very new.

It’s completely logical that everything needs to be reevaluated and, probably, needs to undergo major adjustments.

First off, who are the experts guiding this?

How many people have even actually provided recovery coaching and/or successfully run an organization?  Not very many.

Relatively speaking we are talking about a very small insular group of people. I would put myself in that group.

FAVOR GREENVILLE IS THRIVING 

That doesn’t mean I’m the authority, and just because there are handful of other places thriving doesn’t mean they are the authority.

We need to acknowledge that we have not even reached adolescence in terms of our field’s development.  Yet we act as if this stuff is stone cold fact.

We can do better. Much better.

It’s completely clear that this is an evolving profession. An evolving service.

Is “the approach”  we currently have the gold standard?  If so who decided that?

Should this model be “locked in” at such an early iteration?

THE NEXT VERSION ???

We have all heard of version 1.0 ; version 2.0 ; version 3.0…when it comes to technology and other industries.

Could that same thinking apply to recovery coaching and recovery services?

Recovery Coaching 1.0 has been the universal approach.

HOWEVER, I challenge the idea that the current manifestation of recovery support/coaching is the most effective version.

Look around, all the stuff that you take for granted in life was invented by someone no smarter than you.

You are permitted to invent a solution…. “They” won’t tell you that.

If you become aware that you are allowed to solve this problem….well then….what would “they” do?

 

Synanon 2

“Good Old Days” – Kidnapped, Brainwashed, & Tortured

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GOOD OLD DAYS OF TOUGH LOVE THERAPY

Things today are not quite like the “Good Old Days”, but there are still echoes in the air!

One of the main reasons people struggle with accepting addiction as a brain disease or disorder is because we act like such complete a**holes when we the disease is active. We do nasty things.

Sometimes its dramatic and very obvious like breaking the law, neglecting children, stealing from loved ones, abusing people.

These are the hardest situations to reconcile.

Very hard to have sympathy for someone who hurts a vulnerable person, those in the middle of active addiction.

Sometimes the behavior is more subtle; but still way outside the bounds of acceptable human interaction.

CONSEQUENCES & PUNISHMENT

Our behavior in active addiction leads to the desire for consequences and punishment to be levied.

In the obvious ways like jail, losing jobs, losing our kids, etc…

However, it has also contributed to the punishing nature of many treatment and recovery approaches.

Simply put, people want to extract a pound of flesh from the addicted person.

IT IS YOUR TURN TO SUFFER

The addicted person made many people suffer so now it’s their turn to suffer.

This is why the industry can basically do whatever it wants in terms of housing and services.

The general attitude is “those bastards are lucky they have a roof over their head. Who cares if they are working for $1.43 an hour at the sausage plant and living 7 people to a bedroom”.

Synanon

LIARS, CHEATERS & THIEVES

Even the addicted individual himself joins in the punishment.

I’ve been in group situations where people just one upped each other on how completely horrible they were in active addiction.

We call ourselves “liars, cheaters and thieves”. We think that people being hard and being confrontational is a good thing.

I get it. I really do.

THEY JUST DON’T WANT IT

I understand how things have evolved and how we have progressed to this point.

A point where we can ignore 90% of people in need because they “haven’t hit bottom”. They “don’t want it”, RIGHT???

These concepts work for the everyday person on the street.

Interestingly, this framework also worked for families for years but that has changed quite a bit.

FAMILY SUPPORT BASED ON ALANON

Remember, historically, the foundation for family support was based on Alanon which was (and still is) mostly wives dealing with chronic alcoholism.

Again, it was very natural for these wives to be somewhat hardened and “done” with their husband.

I get that as well. My wife certainly fit that criteria.

The program that was developed would reflect that dynamic. This may be a challenging fit, however, for parents.

I will make the following observations however:

1 – NOT GOING TO WORK

It’s just not going to work.

We can not punish or arrest or lecture or confront or debate our way out of the addiction crisis.

If it was a behavioral issue perhaps that would work. But we all agree this is a brain disease… right?

2 – OTHER WAYS OUT THERE

There are other effective ways to talk about to people about their issues.

An alternative approach requires more effort and it requires creativity.

It requires a willingness to talk differently, lecture less and be open to new ideas.

It means dealing with challenging people with a great deal of patience.

3 – CONFRONT & BREAK THROUGH DENIAL

Eighteen years ago when I started as a clinician I was literally taught to “confront and break through denial”.

However, I blew that shit off early on. I could see right away the damage that did.

The “hot seat” for example.

People who facilitated that group had to have a willingness to re-traumatizing people. I refused to do it and they kept me anyway because I was absolutely freaking exceptional at my job.

Then I got promoted and changed all that bullshit. Good times.

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

I do believe the culture of confrontation is slowly changing. However, if you pay attention, you can still see and still hear the ongoing influence of the good old days.

BONUS RECOVERY CARTEL INTEL REPORT

Please check out this article from Los Angeles Magazines blog, April 23, 2018.

https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/synanon-cult/

Check out “The Rise and Fall of Synanon: A California Utopia”

The Rise and Fall of Synanon: A California Utopia

 

Artificial Intelligence Moonshot

#MoonShotThinking – Solve Our Addiction Crisis – Forever

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THE RECOVERY MOONSHOT
#MoonShotThinking

“Leaps of innovation require a bravery that borders on absurdity.” – Astro Teller

When we fight for money that is designed to primarily feed legacy systems and structures we are fighting for incremental change.

When we roll out solutions centered around access to more detox beds.

When we scream about insurance parity to pay for conventional services.

When we champion sweeping access to medication treatment we are “hoping” for incremental improvement. 10% improvement (at best).

Look at all the Addiction/Recovery books and blueprints and toolkits and proposed solutions out there.

I defy you to find one that is unique from the others. They are all essentially the same.

A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT:

If you were ask to “solve our addiction crisis” via any means necessary and told use your imagination.

What would you say. Would you propose more money for more of the same as a unique idea?

Or would you have the courage to propose ideas that may get you laughed out of the room? Would you be willing to be impractical?

I say be impractical. The establishment will not approve. But the rest of the world will be drawn to you.

People want to be inspired. They want to have hope. Especially those outside the bubble.

HERE IS AN IDEA

I’m not concerned someone will steal it… it’s not “normal” and it’s not currently an approved “evidenced based practice” and there is no funding available….

First we need to identify 1 to 3 components of this complex issue to address.

Let’s focus on 2 specific aspects of the addiction problem:

A) We have a shortage of exceptional therapists/providers.

This is best illustrated when therapists or program directors etc… are told “you need to be cloned”. There is a gap in provider abilities that has been well documented. Not all providers are created equal.

B) Another major issue is engagement or follow through on treatment plans.

The person simply will not attend meetings or go to therapy etc…. this is overwhelmingly common phenomenon.

Our society has accepted this. And we justify the outcomes by saying “they weren’t ready”. Or they “need to hit bottom and become willing”.

A SOLUTION – #MOONSHOT

Create 3-d holograms of the world’s most effective providers and therapists.

Holograms are so realistic they frequently can not be differentiated from the real person.

Use Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to guide the verbal responses and non-verbal responses of the hologram therapist as he/she interacts with the “non-compliant” client.

Make the focus for the hologram be on encouraging the person to attend conventional programming.

The hologram serves as an engagement piece.

They are already working on holograms of the world’s best teachers to be streamed into underprivileged classrooms around the world.

Provide a system that projects the hologram into the person’s home.

24/7/375 ANYWHERE – ANYTIME – ANY REASON

Making access available 24 hrs a day 7 days a week.

If it’s a teen client, then provide the parents with a way that all access to mobile phone etc… is tied to completion of the holograms lesson. You can build in all kind of accountability for any client.

SCREENING/SELF ASSESSMENT:

if you are laughing at this: You now know you are not interested in transformation.

If you immediately start listing the reasons why this won’t work or if recovery slogans pop-up in you mind to explain why this wouldn’t work: You now know you are into the status quo.

WE NEED YOU, STILL

We can’t abandon the current system until we have an alternative. You are interested in system maintenance over transformation.

I will support all your efforts while we continue working toward a world changing solution.

I will support the incremental improvements while I work in the back room to find a massive solution.

I will be a good soldier as we try to put a band aid on society’s gaping addiction wound.

But… I’m going to report to the lab for my 7 pm to 2 am job and will not be content with more of the same.

I hope everyone out there can clearly see this problem is going to be solved by evil capitalists.

My Time In Witness Protection

My Time In Witness Protection & Weapons of Mass Destruction

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My Time In Witness Protection
Secret Location – Rich Jones

I ventured out into the surrounding area of the Recovery Cartel’s W.P.P.C. (witness protection program cabin).

As you know we are in an undisclosed location deep in the Appalachian mountains.

We are so deep we don’t get cell coverage.

Had to pay $1.5 million for this special wi-fi package that allows me to maintain contact with the rest of the world.

We can only go out in the dark so that the Cartel or the KC Mob or the Hill People can’t get to us!

Getting Soft

It is so cold here. I nearly died of exposure out there tonight.

I had to kill a tauntaun on my way home and gut it with my light saber so I could crawl inside and stay warm until Reggie found me. #rescuedog. Here he is expressing his disgust for my weakness….

Reggie the Recovery Dog

I made it but I must be getting soft.

Weapon of Mass Destruction

In the meantime back in the Upstate of South Carolina….

Xanax is a weapon of mass destruction.

Xanax is now a mainstream recreational drug. It’s commonplace in high schools across the Upstate.

Fake Xanax is a killer.

One that is poised for more exposure. As our country pushes down on opioids the cartels will need to make other drugs more addictive… they must come up with a new product line.

Fake Xanax is part of the new product line.

Multinational Corporations

These cartels are multinational corporations with strategy and R & D and product development.

They aren’t just thugs slinging dope.

They innovate and invent new product.

Economics

They are not interested in losing market share IF the opioid market is suppressed.

It’s simple economics…

If people stop buying my pepperoni pizza I’m going to make my double cheese, pineapple pizza more appetizing and see if that can replace market share lost on the pepperoni pizza.

If they are gonna try and reduce demand and push down on opioids/heroin let’s see if we can make Xanax more addictive.

Xanax is the drug of choice for many young people…

Recovery Cartel Blog

“A Dent in the Universe” by Richard Jones

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Pockets of Excellence

To paraphrase the institute for therapeutic change any service is better than no service but no service stands out as the best.

For the most part, this is true. There are outliers on either end.

Some programs/people/service providers are far superior to the rest of the field.

That is probably due to the exceptional skills of a few top performers who work there. The SUD field has always been full of these isolated pockets of excellence.

However, the approach or method or “level of excellence” has never been scaled or replicated.

Mainly because we haven’t found a way to clone the “masters” who run the show in these settings.

Remember, scaling a method or an approach doesn’t mean you open up a couple of more centers in your region or even a few scattered across the country.

Scaling means exponential growth and exponential reach. Millions; not thousands.

Walmart Providers

There are also outliers on the other end.

Horrible providers and therapists and programs and services.

People who should not even be in a room with another human being let alone being in a professional helping field.

Pop-up; Walmart providers are commonplace.

Miserable people burned out holding on way too long. Unfortunately, these programs/people exist.

I Am Amused

However, for the most part the majority of providers are adequate. Providing a variation of a service/program that has been around for 40 years.

If people engage they will probably start to get better. Not everyone. But many will improve.

As much as I hate slogans: these programs seem to ‘work if you work them’.

At least in terms of initial improvement and quality of life they will make an impact. Furthermore, in terms of keeping people alive, there are more options than ever.

I am amused as I see the latest “Recovery Coaching Certification” or “Family Recovery Certification” advertisement.

Or the announcement for the opening of the latest state of the art treatment center; this one will have acupuncture while you ride horses.

It’s called Equi-puncture.

Solutions Still Based On “Willingness”

All the hype and debate around MAT is foolish as well.

We know it works “if they work it”.

The latest “app” misses the mark as it only helps the person who inputs the data or enables the “tracking system”.

Because each and every “new solution” that is proposed assumes “willingness” on the part of the participant.

All of these “evidenced based programs” or “traditional tried and true approaches” are based on a participant who shows up and, for the most part, follows recommendations.

Debating the “best approach or best practices or evidenced based practices” may be entertaining and may make good content for this week’s task force meeting.

But it’s literally a red-herring. An inane exercise which makes us feel as if we are making progress.

But The Facts Remain:

  • 90% of those in need never touch these “evidence based” programs. Hasn’t changed for decades. Probably won’t if we keep focusing on “evidenced based practices” to help the willing.
  • The “system” that already can’t respond to 10% engagement (waiting lists exist for everything: including MAT) would literally implode if we reached even 25% engagement.

Therefore, the “hit bottom” and “you have to want it” foundations of our system, serve a purpose.

It goes to follow then that: the system which would be able to serve increased engagement doesn’t even exist yet. Furthermore, this new system will be unrecognizable by current standards.

It will be as different from the current treatment system as an iPhone is from a pay phone.

“Call Now” – What Are You Waiting For???

–The marketing practices and efforts at engaging the public and/or the person who may need help are laughable. The dude with the doctor scrubs on television.

The endless 12-step speaker meetings on facebook imploring us to “call now”.

You really think this is going to engage an ambivalent participant?

These approaches will SCARE some people into treatment.

But it’s actually going to increase stigma and make the rest of America run the other way.

FACT: The entire American economy is built on making people buy things they don’t actually need. Yet we can’t even make more than 10% in need come get something they desperately need.

There Is A Way

I spend less and less time with people in the recovery bubble.

I spend less and less time with people in the industry.

I spend more and more time with people from other industries and this is why I believe there is a way to change these outcomes.

The goal: 90% of those in need of SUD services engaged in professional support services.

This means at least another 20 million people.

Probably more as we will also engage the “risky” user who hasn’t even been identified.

QUESTION EVERYTHING

Question everything you have been told about treatment, recovery services, insurance, ect..

That system was put together by people who are less informed than we are and certainly no smarter.

Many act as if this “System” is “divinely inspired and comes from God!

They act as if we must do things this way.

We are much more knowledgeable than they were in 1970 when they cranked this thing up.

Stone Cold Truth – Really?

Over my 18 years in recovery and professional treatment/recovery services there have been countless times when I realized I was wrong about something.

Something that a year earlier I would have sworn on as dogma and stone cold truth.

Thank God my views evolve and I remain curious. I read. I read a lot.

I read on topics outside the bubble.

I’m not interested in addiction or recovery conferences or webinars. It’s all recycled information.

I ask questions. I change my mind.

More, More, More

It’s ironic that serving 20 million more people will not be based on more beds or more MAT or more insurance parity.

These areas are a very small part of the plan. Almost an afterthought.

These are ideas that are part of a vision. There is nothing threatening about ideas. Is there?

We will figure out how to get to that vision… by starting with identification of how NOT to get there.

We will figure it out.

Evil Pharma is a distraction

THIS PROBLEM GOES BEYOND THE EVIL PHARMA EMPIRE

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THE EVIL PHARMA NARRATIVE IS A DISTRACTION FROM THE REAL ISSUES:

Such as APF’s attempt to do an end around and get $10 million for “literature and training”.

Everyone rattled the “Pharma connection”. Who cares if Pharma is involved.

They literally have the audacity to assume they are the designated authority on Recovery.

HOW DO WE DETERMINE AUTHORITY AND EXPERTISE:

There is always the chance that most of what we take as “indisputable fact” is instead “very, very, very disputable”.

I will not blindly follow the herd and accept as true that which may be fundamentally false. This is the case at the macro level.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) immediately comes to mind. They are not reliable and they are deeply corrupt.

They do not produce policy based on objective truth. They do not provide the public with reliable information.

At best they provide incomplete information.

In other words they should say “we aren’t sure but we think this drug may help.

Or at the very least it won’t kill you”… The SSRI farce is just one example.

At worst they are corrupt and willfully deceitful.

Allowing Purdue Pharma to come to market saying opioids are non-addictive is an example. There are clearly people in Purdue’s pocket.

READ IT HERE – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2622774/

More likely legislators with influence over FDA. Probably FDA directly.

IT’S THE ILLUMINATI ???

I’m not saying there is some Alex Jones Illuminati type stuff going on; but if you think our government is pursuing justice and truth you are silly and naive.

And this crony capitalism is not confined to any one party. Sometimes it has nothing to do with political party. It’s the regulatory body itself independent of legislators.

TRUTHS AND NORMS

This false evidence presented as real shows up in all societal institutions.

Religions, legal system/prison system, school system, military and all the other major institutions of society have their own galvanizing indisputable truths. This is what makes the institution function.

Furthermore, from a functionalist perspective, these institutions reinforce the facts put forth by other institutions because it holds everything together. Society “functions” better when all agree on “truth and norms”.

EXAMPLE #1 – RELIGION 

Example: Religion has always been used to reinforce civil norms and encourage obedient behavior. In all religions and all countries it’s part of the equation. Sometimes very overt. Sometimes more covert and deceptive.

EXAMPLE #2 – DRUG LAWS AND THE INDUSTRIAL PRISON COMPLEX 

Another Example: drug laws are used to perpetuate the industrial prison complex.

—The United States locks up a lot of people.

Our prison population rate of roughly 700 per 100,000 is the second-highest of 222 countries tracked by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research.

Private correctional facilities were a $4.8 billion industry last year, with profits of $629 million, according to market research firm IBISWorld. Yet we “must protect our youth from the evil drug dealers”. ALL SUPPLY SIDE INTERVENTIONS ARE DOOMED TO FAIL.

EXAMPLE #3 – THE ADDICTION TREATMENT SYSTEM & THE RECOVERY MOVEMENT

—Another example: the indisputable “truths” which hold together our addiction treatment system ($46 billion industry) and our evolving centralized “recovery movement”.

TAKE NOTE: APF and their underlings are trying to “control” the movement; including the allocation of funding.

If you think ALL the “experts and gatekeepers” at the front of our “Recovery Movement” are putting forth pure objective unbiased info you are truly naive.

NOTE: I have great respect and admiration for many people and organizations in the Recovery space.

Even if I don’t agree with the others I know they aren’t bad people. They simply have an agenda and think they know best.

WE ALL DESERVE TO KNOW THE RULE OF THE GAME

APF tried to sneak in $10 million in Self Funding through legislation that we all fought for. Money that the entire “Recovery Movement” fought for.

By and large the “Recovery Movement” has been silent. Aside from some brave voices who are willing to walk their own path. Everyone else appears to be toeing the company line.

As a matter of fact I am starting to think I must be foolish for being upset about this.

It appears everyone else in the “movement” is cool with APF’s private deal. One thing for sure. This new recovery “thing” is certainly not a movement. It’s an evolving system and a burgeoning industry.

Or more accurately, an off shoot of the treatment system. History repeating itself.

That’s fine. But we all deserve to know the rules of the game.

PUNCHED IN THE GUT

CARA 2.0

APF doesn’t represent FAVOR GREENVILLE worldview.

When FAVOR GREENVILLE advocates for legislation and recovery money WE DO NOT support any of it being allocated to “literature and training”.

We had no idea that was part of the plan. This isn’t the first time FAVOR GREENVILLE has been punched in the gut.

In February 2018 I participated in an event in Washington DC that was broadcast-with the surgeon general; and some members of congress.

At that event we (the recovery movement) officially requested $220 million.

Shortly after that event Faces and Voices/ARCO sent out an email celebrating the fact that Sheldon Whitehouse (senator) seemed on board and the $220 million request stood.

STAND UP FOR ITSELF

APF

The recovery movement was finally going to stand up for itself and not just advocate for more money for treatment and the legacy provider system.

As the legislative process unfolded APF sent a letter to Congress proposing allocation of money in CARA 2.0 legislation.

It detailed where APF recommended the money go.

The amount allocated to recovery support (places like FAVOR; recovery housing etc…) was $7 million of a $4 billion proposal. $7 million instead of $220 million.

Furthermore, the APF letter that was sent to congress included a section that stated this request is supported by over 100 recovery organizations nationwide including the following: it then listed all the ARCO members. Including FAVOR Greenville

OVER-SIGHT OR MISCOMMUNICATION ???

I would have never signed off on those changes.

We were never ask about our support for that allocation. Not by APF; Not by Faces and Voices national.

I never said I agree with the APF document.

I never got the opportunity to review the document ahead of time. And when I did review it (after it was sent to Congress). I didn’t agree with much of it.

Perhaps it was oversight. Perhaps it was miscommunication.

CANNOT CONCEIVE

However, I can not conceive any circumstance where I would have the hubris to speak for another organization without written consent.

NO ONE SPEAKS FOR FAVOR GREENVILLE AND OUR AFFILIATES EXCEPT ME AND OUR BOARD CHAIR.

On one hand we are very frustrated at FAVOR GREENVILLE.

On the other hand it is good to have clarity and realistic expectations surrounding national advocacy.

NO INTENTION TO FUND

There is no intention to fund independent recovery supports.

It would not be politically expedient for APF and their associates to pursue such radical ideas. They will bank on toolkits and blueprints and resource lists. Much safer and acceptable to the status quo.

WE INTEND TO GAIN PROMINENCE

At FAVOR GREENVILLE we intend to gain prominence nationally based on merit and performance and winning in the free market. We know we won’t be invited to any advocacy awards dinners and we may be kicked out of the “club”.

However, we have realized that the the world outside the recovery bubble loves us and is willing to be part of the solution. Corporations, healthcare systems, benefits administrators, and the technology industry are willing partners.

WE KNOW WE CAN DELIVER

They judge us based on performance and value add. That makes us hopeful because we know we can deliver.

I would have stayed in the treatment system If I wanted to struggle with arbitrary gatekeepers and “experts”. It’s hard to abdicate authority to people who have never executed in the actual delivery of professional recovery services.

We have no intention of following people/organizations/protocols which operate mainly on theory.

Or worse organizations that just repackage the 60 year old treatment system.

I have little time nor tolerance for theory over practice.

I will follow the lead of people who add value and get things done effectively on the ground in direct service.

ACCESS TO UNLIMITED INFO

In modern society we have access to unlimited info. The isn’t 13th century feudal system where we have no info and we just need to accept that the king’s rule is “divinely ordained”.

Read. Educate yourself. Check out other sides. Access your own critical thinking. If you are in the “Recovery Movement” take time to investigate. Don’t blindly follow the herd.

For that matter. Challenge me as well. I’m not an “authority”. I just have an opinion.

Tell me how I’m wrong. Tell me where you differ.

Let’s talk!

RICHARD JONES MA, MBA, LCAS, SAP
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
864-764-8504 (cell)
Observation from Richard Jones Recovery Cartel

Just My Observation – Tell Me What Am I Missing?

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THIS IS AN OBSERVATION
BY RICH JONES | RECOVERY CARTEL

It sounds sarcastic and provocative but it’s truly an observation. And the points I make are unassailable.

I challenge someone to tell me what I’m missing.

With the facts below in mind, understand that the long standing manifestation of treatment/“rehab” is unsustainable.

The approach used to get customers is so insanely one dimensional and insulting to the average human being that it is unsustainable.

ONLY 10%

No wonder only 10% ever show up for treatment.

The reason it has lasted this long is the stigma.

No one in the outside business world wanted in on this industry because it’s a stigmatized patient group. No one creative considers involvement because those “scum-bag” addicts are an afterthought.

A NEW BUSINESS MODEL

Historically, if an outsider does decide to get in they just followed the rehab formula because it was a proven business model.

No one bothered thinking about creative destruction and inventing a new business model.

As stigma is reduced and awareness raised more and more outsiders will become involved. And things will change.

A new business model will emerge.

Marketing in the addiction Treatment/Recovery industry is really only focused on filling rehab beds and appears to fall into one of 8 categories/strategies; or a combination of these strategies:

8 CATEGORIES / STRATEGIES 

  1. Hire someone/maintain team to do face to face business development to outpatient, doctors, etc…. focus on legacy relationships, brand and reputation to fill beds. Use outpatient clinics to funnel clients as appropriate. This is mostly used by the large legacy programs and integrated massive systems.
  2. Digital media (Facebook, Instagram etc…) with the apparent strategy being create a persona or use pseudo-celebrity/actually celebrity to basically tell his/her 12 step story over and over….while encouraging people to call now for help.
  3. Digital media where these same personas, pseudo celebrities/real celebrities diss other pseudo celebrities etc…. while encouraging people to call now for help.
  4. Digital media where these pseudo celebrities etc….tell parents they are enablers and killing their kids….while encouraging people to call now for help.
  5. Google ad-words at hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
  6. Annual conferences (NAATP, C-4 etc….) where people talk about the latest innovation in treatment and ethical marketing practices. While encouraging one another to “keep us in mind if you think you have a fit for our program”….
  7. Some guy in doctor scrubs on television in the lowest production value commercial in the history of TV encouraging people to call now if you or a loved one need help.
  8. Body brokers.

With the exception of number 1 and number 6. The content of the marketing message, despite the platform or avenue of delivery, is essentially

  • “You’re hopelessly addicted. You’re in denial about that. Call now and get help. Or you’re gonna die”….. or
  • “You’re loved one is hopelessly addicted. Get your shit together and stop enabling. Call now or they are gonna die”…..

Number 1 works because the narrative of “we are the expert healthcare providers/treatment providers and state of the art etc….” and “we are really you’re one best option” has never really been challenged.

Legacy and brand is hard to overcome.

Number 6 is just an excuse to visit a posh resort and play golf. 😎😎😎😎

This is an industry that is going to get completely turned upside down as soon as the knowledge of the issue (and the associated opportunities) escapes the Recovery Bubble. Begging for disruption….moral imperative to do so.

Anyone remember Blockbuster??

Burn the Boats - Recovery Cartel Blog

Burn The Boats At The Shore

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YOU AREN’T UNIQUE IF YOU SIMPLY PICK A DIFFERENT HERD TO FOLLOW

At the very least. I will challenge your thinking. You may not agree but you will learn.

You may hate on me. But you will think.

No one else will talk about this stuff.

If everyone is innovative in the same way is it actually innovative?

If everyone in the “new movement” thinks and talks in the same way, following a model of thinking which has been slightly tweaked from the old model, is that innovative? #realtalk.

Very important; if you think you want to get into the Recovery Support Services game: It’s not easy.

You may want to think again.

You’re Likely to Fail and Quit

There is no dedicated funding (and none on the horizon) and you’re likely to fail and quit early and/or limp along for years.

Don’t hate me for calling it like it is.

If you want to approach it from a professional standpoint it’s even more challenging.

If you want to do some service on the side it will probably be a fit. But if that’s the goal why bother with a movement?? There are many well established outlets for service.

Professional Recovery Support

I’m interested in the development of Recovery Support as a profession.

The company, Y Combinator,  coined the term “Trough of Sorrow”.

This term refers to the period of struggle a startup faces after a setback and inevitable challenges.

Following the initial excitement of starting a company or a project or major initiative you face the reality of product fit within the market.

In the case of Recovery Organizations or Recovery Support Services we see this over and over.

The “idea” of starting Recovery Organizations and initiatives is much easier than implementation. Even harder to establish yourself among the bureaucracy, regulators, funders, and the legacy recovery groups.

The Challenge

That’s our challenge to find product fit (Recovery Support) in the market (bureaucratic funding and regulator malaise).

It’s a monumental task to survive the trough of sorrow.

It’s very rare to survive the trough. And, dare I say, it requires very, very unique and resourceful leadership.

Most people can not pull this off. Most people quit during the trough of sorrow.

In the recovery organization/services world many can quit because their lives and livelihood does not depend on the product.

Burn The Boats

If you burn the boats at the shore of the island and have no choice but to make it work, things get more intense.

When it’s viewed as a professional business you will die trying.

If it’s an outlet or service work on the side you aren’t as desperate to succeed. Logical right?

“Service work” is important and needed but things go next level when your personal world depends on success of the “movement”.

High Stakes

If your life, your family, your livelihood depend on success the stakes are much higher.

People wind up flaming out, imploded, destroying themselves, and doing all kinds of crazy shit in the trough.

An organization or business can be in the trough for years.

There is no magic to get through. Really… just moving forward and constant and continuous work.

Unceasing and never ending work.

Working just as hard while going through family crisis.

Keeping Moving

Chop wood carry water. It’s not a hobby. Compartmentalize and move forward. Working when everyone tells you that you work too much.

It’s all more difficult to do all this in the non-profit “recovery organization” world because there is no ultimate destination or goal. No exit or ultimate promised land. You don’t get bought.

You don’t get acquired and go to scale.

It’s essentially a job not a business. You do it until you retire. And the ultimate payoff is your contribution to the world. Your corner of the world is better because of your effort. Good stuff. But limited in scope.

Oh…you can write this off in that cliched, silly way: “it’s greedy to do for profit work….it’s less noble etc….”. Y’all know the story.

High Pressure – High Risk = HIGH REWARD

I’m gonna continue to bring the “burn the boat and survive” mentality to the non-profit world.

I’m gonna make sure FAVOR GREENVILLE goes hard all day everyday. Set the standard for community recovery support services. Our goal is scale at whatever level possible.

But…high pressure; high risk; HIGH REWARD is what ultimately changes the world.

Can we conjure up that mentality….. Something to think about.. Hmmmmm….🤔🤔🤔🤔

What is Independent Recovery Coaching

What is Independent Recovery Coaching

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Real Independent Recovery Coaching

I was born and raised in western Pennsylvania.

Graduated from Ligonier Valley High School.

Here I am in the photo above – number 15; white jersey-back in my Larry Bird-esque basketball days.

How about those shorts?

I also lived in eastern Pa for 8 years after college. Including the metropolis of Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania.

I grew-up, recovered and broke into the addiction treatment field in Pennsylvania.

I get pre-occupied with South Carolina for obvious reasons. In 2012 I moved here.

This last year in 2017, South Carolina had about 800 overdose deaths, but in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania they had over 5000 overdose deaths in 2017?

A 64% increase over the past 2 years.

Outside Looking In

I’ve been in Pennsylvania a bunch this summer and early fall due to personal/family matters.

And now, as an outsider, it’s easy to see how weary communities are where the “epidemic” is concerned.

They are growing numb. If you live and work in it day to day you may not see the frustration. Maybe you do.

But I’ve been a dual resident over the past 3 months (due to some personal issues; we own a house there) and it’s very noticeable.

5000 – The New Normal?

5000 dead is going to become the new normal.

Everyone knows someone who has died from overdose.

Will we get to a place where it’s not even noteworthy???

Needed Change

Pennsylvania needs some radical change.

Not another committee. Or an additional peer recovery staff in the county detox.

Not another training or technical assistance event. No more research to identify exactly what the problem is.

Pennsylvania needs more independent autonomous recovery community organizations.

Coaches in the world harnessing the full power of the community.

Independent. Not run by your county drug and alcohol authority. That’s not their job. Their job is treatment.

Real Independent Recovery Coaching

The difference between recovery coaching being delivered by an independent organization and coaching delivered by treatment/county authority is the following:

  1. In an independent organization RECOVERY IS THE ONLY THING WE DO.
  2. In a treatment/county run organization recovery is another thing they do.

Because, at FAVOR Greenville, it’s the only thing we do. We will bring unique benefits to the table.

You need both of these models.

Take Action

But in most parts of the Commonwealth you only have the “peer in treatment org” model.

If the system won’t support it….Raise some money and take some action.

If inspired the community will support new efforts.

But you’re gonna have to take some chances.

I’m exposed to life in Western Pa. I don’t know as much about Eastern Pa.

At least they are looking at safe injection sites in Philly…. That’s shaking things up.

The takeaway for South Carolina. Learn from their mistakes.

Pouring money into the same things over and over yields little return on investment.

Please visit FAVOR Greenville

CASA Columbia Analysis of the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health

Our Industry Has Failed At Engagement

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The National Household Survey

From the CASA Columbia “Analysis of the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health”.

Please take a moment and cogitate on the picture in this post.

Observe if you will the 2 “poles” of the continuum.

In theory we address the entire continuum of substance use; but does our practice/approach match the diversity and stages of substance misuse? Of course not.

In American society we approach substance misuse primarily in the following 2 ways:

  1. “Just Say No! Don’t Do Drugs” (focusing on the 12.7% “not using”). These are our prevention programs.
  2. “Wait Until You Hit Bottom”; admit you are an alcoholic or an addict and come to treatment (focusing on the 15.9% “addicted”).

This is our reality. Substance misuse is not discussed until IT HAS TO BE DISCUSSED. Until it cannot be ignored.
And even then we do a horrible job connecting to that 15.9%.

From the CASA Columbia Addiction Medicine Report:

While about seven out of 10 people with hypertension, major depression or diabetes get treatment for their medical conditions, only about one in 10 people with addiction involving alcohol or drugs other than nicotine do, leaving a treatment gap of 20.7 million individuals. The proportion of individuals in need of addiction treatment who actually receive it has changed little since 2002, when 9.8 percent of those in need received treatment.

Failed at Engagement

IT HASN’T CHANGED SINCE 2002. 16 YEARS.

I would say that indicates we have failed at engagement.

If we can start touching the people who are in the non-risky and risky categories we can make a difference.

But they are NOT going to come to your clinic.

They are not going to listen to the “Just Say No” presentation at school.

If they are in the risky category the “documentary on addiction” is not going impact them.

They are not going to go to a meeting and admit powerlessness.

Quite frankly, meetings are NOT designed for the “risky user”; they are designed for the “real alcoholic/addict”.

They are NOT going to come to an intensive outpatient program unless they have to, i.e. DUI, and then they are going to go through the motions.

This is What We Need

Information, non-judgmental information, that does not involve a diagnosis.

That does not involve a prescriptive “program”.

Does not require “admission” to a certain type of problem.

This is what we need. Engaging information. Professionally delivered.

With a nod toward healthcare rather than a nod toward rehab.

The word recovery may even be problematic for the “risky user” category. They just aren’t there yet.

Carpet Bomb with Information & Connection

If we carpet bomb the country with information and connection at a “stage appropriate” level, I believe that will lead to more people in the “addiction”‘ category seeking treatment.

If we “touch” people along the way as they progress toward addiction they will be more likely to seek help once they do cross that line. OR even before they cross that line.

The challenge is doing so at a “stage” appropriate level.

Engaging Content and Engaging People

We can’t talk to the public the same way we talk to one another.

This goes way beyond using the term “substance use disorder” versus the term “addiction”.

Avoiding the term “substance abuse” is not going to win the day in this regard.

Engaging content and engaging people talking about health and wellness will make more of an impact.

Almost Impossible

“Identification” is hard enough for a person who has crossed that line into “addiction”.

It will be almost impossible for the “risky user”.

Unfortunately many of these “risky users” are being sent to rehabs that were designed for the “addicted” person.

Causing more harm than good?

Embrace Harm Reduction

This is also going to require that professional providers embrace a harm reduction point of view.

NOT in terms of M.A.T. or needle exchange etc… but in terms of reduction in use; less dangerous use etc…

Increasing community tenure. Getting away from knee jerk referrals to inpatient rehab.

Many of you are cringing while reading this.

Noble and Important Work

I love everyone who works in this field. Y’all are doing noble and important work.

But the logic of my argument is beyond reproach. Don’t kill the messenger.

If we are ever going to slow the rampage of addiction we will need to implement these type of comprehensive interventions.

Emphasizing quality of life and health/wellness over “recovery”.

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