

The Changing Landscape of Substance Use & Addiction
Throughout history, humans have used, misused and become addicted to mood-altering substances. We have seen a dramatic change in the form and potency of substances over time. Today we understand that co-occurring mental health disorders can aggravate substance misuse.
This program addressed the trends being seen by behavioral health professionals and people in recovery.



Watch Dr. Kevin McCauley’s presentation, “New Perspectives on Addiction & Recovery”
Presented by Be a Part of the Conversation in Devon, PA on December 3, 2019
Understanding Addiction
Harvard Health – HelpGuide article
Understanding Drug Use & Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Addiction 101
Recovery Research Institute
Addictionary®
Recovery Research Institute
The Beast We Call Progression: Addiction a Progressive Disease
Treatment Solutions
Cigarette Smoking Increases the Likelihood of Drug Use Relapse
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Nicotine Craving and Heavy Smoking May Contribute to Increased Use of Cocaine and Heroin
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Facts About Nicotine
UCSF Smoking Cessation Leadership Center
Nicotine as a Gateway Drug
New England Journal of Medicine
Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Dr. Kevin McCauley’s 10 Slices of Cheese
The Institute for Addiction Study
Visit our pages dedicated to finding in-patient or outpatient treatment, and recovery housing options:
https://conversation.zone/findrecovery/
Visit the Capacitype Recovery Resource Hub:
https://www.recoveryresourcehub.org/
Learn about Medication Assisted Treatment:
https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
Learn about Trauma-Informed Therapy:
https://www.verywellmind.com/trauma-informed-therapy-definition-and-techniques-5209445
Find health care professionals specializing in Addiction Psychiatry:
https://www.aaap.org/education/resources/patients/find-a-specialist/
Meet Our Presenters!
Funding for this program was provided by the Montgomery County Office of Drug & Alcohol.


10 Things You Need to Know about Addiction
Drugs, alcohol, gaming, social media, sex/love, spending/shopping, eating, pornography, relationships/codependency, gambling, exercise. These are the substances and behaviors that can derail a life and devastate the people connected to that life.
We’ll look at addiction through a wide-angle lens and explore the spectrum of addiction and its many manifestations.
We will hear from experts who have dedicated their lives to understanding and treating addiction and the families who are impacted. We’ll also hear a personal story that will help us to understand the complexity of behavioral and interactive addictions.
>> Introduction to Behavioral Addictions
Grant JE, Potenza MN, Weinstein A, Gorelick DA. Introduction to behavioral addictions. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010;36(5):233-241. doi:10.3109/00952990.2010.491884
>> Proposed diagnostic criteria for compulsive buying-shopping disorder: A Delphi expert consensus study
Müller, A., Laskowski, N. M., Trotzke, P., Ali, K., Fassnacht, D. B., de Zwaan, M., Brand, M., Häder, M., & Kyrios, M. (2021). Proposed diagnostic criteria for compulsive buying-shopping disorder: A Delphi expert consensus study, Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 10(2), 208-222.
>> Behavioral Addiction versus Substance Addiction: Correspondence of Psychiatric and Psychological Views
Alavi SS, Ferdosi M, Jannatifard F, Eslami M, Alaghemandan H, Setare M. Behavioral Addiction versus Substance Addiction: Correspondence of Psychiatric and Psychological Views. Int J Prev Med. 2012;3(4):290-294.
12 Step Meetings for those with Process/Behavioral Addictions:
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Clutterer’s Anonymous
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Codependents Anonymous (CoDA)
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Debtors Anonymous (DA)
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Emotions Anonymous (EA)
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Food Addicts Anonymous
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Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous
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Gamblers Anonymous
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Gam-Anon (for family and loved ones)
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Internet & Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA)
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Love Addicts Anonymous (LAA)
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Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
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Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA)
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Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)
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Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA)
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Sexual Recovery Anonymous (SRA)
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Underearners Anonymous (UA)
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Workaholics Anonymous (WA)
>> Addiction Interaction, Relapse and Recovery
Scientific American
>> Addiction Interaction Explained
Webinar from The Meadows
>> Addiction Interaction Disorder
Post from Caron Treatment Center
>> “Upon Further Review: The NFL’S Gambling Strategy is a Risk to Public Health and Congress Must Act”
Post by Harry Levant
>> Ethical Gambling Reform Group
>> Stop Predatory Gambling
A national advocacy network of individuals and partner groups with members in all 50 states.
>> SMART Recovery for Gambling Addiction
>> Compulsive Gambling
>> Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
>> Help with Problem Gambling
Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP)
>> National Council on Problem Gambling
>> “Am I a Sex Addict?” (PATHOS)
Dr. Patrick Carnes
>> What is Love Addiction?
Psychology Today
>> What is Sex Addiction?
Healthline
>> Internet Addiction Disorder
Post on PsyCom
>> “Tech addiction is real. We psychologists need to take it seriously.”
Washington Post story
>> Are You Addicted to Technology?
Rutgers University
>> “Breaking My Phone Addiction – Via My Phone”
Wired Magazine
Hazeldon Betty Ford
>> Internet Addiction
Psychology Today
>> What is Social Media Addiction?
Healthline
>> Inside How A 12-Step Recovery Program For Social Media Addiction Works
BuzzFeed
>> Internet Addiction: A Brief Summary of Research and Practice
Cash H, Rae CD, Steel AH, Winkler A. Internet Addiction: A Brief Summary of Research and Practice. Curr Psychiatry Rev. 2012;8(4):292-298. doi:10.2174/157340012803520513
>> Visit our web page: “Kids & the Tech/Life Balance”
The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
by Gabor Maté, MD
It Will Never Happen to Me: Growing Up with Addiction as Youngsters, Adolescents, and Adults
by Claudia Black, PhD
Please note: The resources, organizations, agencies and individuals listed on this page are not necessarily endorsed by Be a Part of the Conversation. If you need immediate help, please consider these resources:
>> Finding Treatment
>> National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
>> Naloxone (Narcan, Evzio) for Opioid Overdose
Be a Part of the Conversation programs do not provide behavioral health advice and are for informational purposes only. Our programs are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding substance use disorders or related family needs. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen in any Be a Part of the Conversation program or video.
Meet Our Presenters!
Funding for this program was provided by the Montgomery County Office of Drug & Alcohol.



The Changing Landscape of Substance Use & Addiction
Throughout history, humans have used, misused and become addicted to mood-altering substances. We have seen a dramatic change in the form and potency of substances over time. Today we understand that co-occurring mental health disorders can aggravate substance misuse.
This program addressed the trends being seen by behavioral health professionals and we explored the newest outpatient and inpatient treatment options. We also discussed recovery housing and heard from someone living in recovery from addiction.



Watch Dr. Kevin McCauley’s presentation, “New Perspectives on Addiction & Recovery”
Presented by Be a Part of the Conversation in Devon, PA on December 3, 2019
Understanding Addiction
Harvard Health – HelpGuide article
Understanding Drug Use & Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Addiction 101
Recovery Research Institute
Addictionary®
Recovery Research Institute
The Beast We Call Progression: Addiction a Progressive Disease
Treatment Solutions
Cigarette Smoking Increases the Likelihood of Drug Use Relapse
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Nicotine Craving and Heavy Smoking May Contribute to Increased Use of Cocaine and Heroin
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Facts About Nicotine
UCSF Smoking Cessation Leadership Center
Nicotine as a Gateway Drug
New England Journal of Medicine
Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Dr. Kevin McCauley’s 10 Slices of Cheese
The Institute for Addiction Study
Visit our pages dedicated to finding in-patient or outpatient treatment, and recovery housing options:
https://conversation.zone/findrecovery/
Visit the Capacitype Recovery Resource Hub:
https://www.recoveryresourcehub.org/
Learn about Medication Assisted Treatment:
https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
Learn about Trauma-Informed Therapy:
https://www.verywellmind.com/trauma-informed-therapy-definition-and-techniques-5209445
Find health care professionals specializing in Addiction Psychiatry:
https://www.aaap.org/education/resources/patients/find-a-specialist/
Learn about “Sunrise of the Spirit” recovery houses:
http://www.sunlightofthespirithouse.com/index.html
See the video Brooke mentioned that provides a look inside recovery housing, which can be found on their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/sunlightofthespirithouse/
Google App Store for Meeting Guide:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.meetingguide&hl=en_US&gl=US
Apple App Store for Meeting Guide:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meeting-guide/id1042822181
Meditation Meetings starting Saturdays in April 2022, 10AM at Marshall Square Park in West Chester, PA at the Totem Pole in the park.
Ray’s contact: 484-942-3539
Meet Our Presenters!


Troy Jackson, MSS, LSW
Clinician
Ethos Treatment, LLC


Valerie Cannon, MSW, LSW, ACRPS
Division Director
Mirmont Treatment Center, Main Line Health


Brooke Shockley
House Manager
Sunlight of the Spirit
Funding for this program was provided by the Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services.


Following Up | May 12, 2020 Online Program
Approximately 10% of Americans over the age of 12 will struggle with addiction. This is not something to fear, but to understand. We learned about risk factors, warning signs, and options for recovery. We also heard from individuals who shared their personal journeys from addiction to recovery.



Watch Dr. Kevin McCauley’s presentation, “New Perspectives on Addiction & Recovery”
Presented by Be a Part of the Conversation in Devon, PA on December 3, 2019
Understanding Addiction
Harvard Health – HelpGuide article
Understanding Drug Use & Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Addiction 101
Recovery Research Institute
Addictionary®
Recovery Research Institute
The Beast We Call Progression: Addiction a Progressive Disease
Treatment Solutions
Cigarette Smoking Increases the Likelihood of Drug Use Relapse
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Nicotine Craving and Heavy Smoking May Contribute to Increased Use of Cocaine and Heroin
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Facts About Nicotine
UCSF Smoking Cessation Leadership Center
Nicotine as a Gateway Drug
New England Journal of Medicine
Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Dr. Kevin McCauley’s 10 Slices of Cheese
The Institute for Addiction Study
Meet Our Presenters!


Kim Porter, CFRS
Executive Director
Be a Part of the Conversation


John Becker, LPC, CAADC, CEAP, SAP, CTR
Guardian Recovery Services


Nicole Santangelo