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Online Articles

America Has a Drinking Problem - A little alcohol can boost creativity and strengthen social ties. But there’s nothing moderate, or convivial, about the way many Americans drink today.(The Atlantc - June-July 2021)


The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous - Its faith-based 12-step program dominates treatment in the United States. But researchers have debunked central tenets of AA doctrine and found dozens of other treatments more effective.(The Atlantic - April 2015)


What Does It Mean to Have a Serious Drinking Problem? - Alcohol was my stress reducer, my reality fighter, the conferrer of artificial joys. It was also wreaking havoc on my life. (Nancy Wartik - NYT - 1/31/20) pdf female symbol 20x20


The Patriarchy of Alcoholics Anonymous - Women who drink too much need help. But we don't need to give up our power. (Holly Whitaker - NYT - 12/27/19) pdf female symbol 20x20


How to Successfully Leave 12-Step Meetings - Take charge of your recovery and thrive. (The Temper - 12/17/19)


There's A Fix For The Opioid Crisis - Medications work really well for opioid addiction. Most rehab facilities don’t use them. (Vox - 12/17/19)


Are Millennials Over Alcoholics Anonymous? - Young addicts are increasingly seeking alternative methods to support their recovery. (Cosmopolitan - 7/16/19)


So You’ve Made a Huge Mistake. What Now? - It’s fine. You’re fine. Everything is O.K. (NYT - 6/9/19)


Don't Call People Addicts - Does this do damage to the recovering person? (WHYY in Philadelphia - 4/1/19)


Talking About Addiction - How the way we talk about addiction can make it harder for people to recover. (Candadian Broadcastng  - 4/1/19)


Does It Really Matter How We Talk About Addiction? - Words can hurt when they reinforce misconceptions.- (Psychology Today  - 6/1/7)


People are dying because we misunderstand how those with addiction think... - A philosopher explains why addiction isn’t a moral failure. (Vox.com - 3/16/18)


Alcoholics Anonymous works for some people. A new study suggests the alternatives do too. - A study shows why we need more addiction treatment options in America:(Vox.com - 3/16/18)


My First Year Sober - A wonderful sober/biographical cartoon, (Edith Zimmerman - 3/16/18)


How To Get Yourself Out Of A Funk - Try it! (Kottke.org - 2/22/19)


Why some people swear by Alcoholics Anonymous "— and others despise it - The research offers some insights, but it’s complicated. (Vox.com - 1/2/18)


Imagine If The Media Covered Alcohol Like Other Drugs"  - A satirical piece...or is it? (Vox.com - 9/28/18)


Addicton, Inc. - From the New York Times a four article series (New York Times - 2/18/18)


Let's Open Up About Addiction and Recovery - Will openess reduce the stigma of addiction? (New York Times - 11/4/17)


How Science Is Unlocking The Secrets Of Addiction - How new discoveries can help us kick the habit. (National Geographic - Sept. 2017)


Cognitive Bias Cheat Sheet - Notes on improving your thinking...and your understanding about how you think. (Better Humans - 09/01/16)


 Wikipedia Article on Cognitive Biases


 5 Myths About Addiction that Undermine Recovery - These myths about the addicted stigmatize them and can sabotage interventions.(Psychology Today  - 5/14/3)


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PDF Articles

My Safety Plan - In use for many years in the mental health field, a "Personal Safety Plan" can be a great resource when you feel yourself losing control or adrift.This is great example from Interior Gardening a psychological services practice in India. (Suggested from member at LSRmail - 2/7/22) PDF pdf

Tools from the recent book "Chatter"- From Ethan Kross' book "Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters..." (More at Ethan Kross' Website -  4/11/21) PDF pdf

I Traded the 12-Step Program for a Dog - The bond with my Australian cattle dog has been the most effective way for me to stay sober. (NYT Opinion 05/08/19) PDF pdf


 

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Recovery Websites

These organizations have face-to-face meetings as well as an online presence.

LifeRing - the main LSR worldwide website. Lots of information, online chats, email lists, resources and much, much more


AA Agnostica - The inside AA movement to offer help to those looking to AA for help and troubled by the religious content of many AA meetings.


SMART Recovery - Smart Management and Recovery Training focuses on empowering the individual to sustain recovery.


Women for Sobriety (WFS) - A nonprofit, abstinence-based program is made up of women supporting each other in recovery. female symbol 20x20


Secular AA - "Grounded in the belief that anyone – regardless of their spiritual beliefs or lack thereof – can recover in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous"


These organizations are online only communities (Many thanks to "The Temper" for aggregating much of this list)

r/stopdrinking - With more than 150,000 subscribers, this subreddit of Reddit.com does exactly what it says in the name: helps its members to stop drinking. (According to their tagline, they’re “a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking.”)


r/redditorsinrecovery - This Reddit community isn’t as big as r/stopdrinking, but r/redditorsinrecovery can be a great secondary Reddit resource.


Sober Recovery - This forums based recovery site is a great place for people with substance use disorder to find assistance and helpful information.


Hello Sunday Morning - A community that’s focused on positive health and behavior change


Kevin Griffin - Buddhist author, teacher, and leader in the mindful recovery movement.


Refuge Recovery - A Buddhist inspired path to recovery - site links to large library of podcasts


Addictions and Recovery - Addiction and Recovery Information for Individuals, Families, and Professionals


William White Papers - White is one of the most knowledgeable writers in the recovery field. His books, articles, essays, etc. are collected here. A treasure trove on the history, evolution, and current state of addictions research and treatment.

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Other Useful Websites

These websites have information, suggestions, and resources that may help.

Zen Habits - by Leo Babauta - (from the website) Zen Habits is about finding simplicity and mindfulness in the daily chaos of our lives.


 

 

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YouTube

Drunk With Power - Inside a rogue Syracuse AA group. (Syracuse.com 10/10/19)


LifeRing - A Choice in Recovery Interview - Irina Bogomolova of "Choice In Recovery" interviews LifeRing's Executive Director Byron Kerr (Lifering - 7/1/19)


Drinkers Like Me British broadcaster Adrian Chiles examines his (and friends) drinking behavior in this BBC Special. (YouTube - 8/28/18)


Quackaholics Anonymous - from the channel descripton, "The channel also wishes to let people know that you can quit drinking and doing drugs and live a productive life without AA. You are not diseased. You are not powerlessl.

 

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Online Publications

The Fix - The Fix is the world's premier website about addiction and recovery, featuring a daily mix of breaking news, exclusive interviews, investigative reports, essays and blogs on sober living, lifestyle and cultural resources, as well as knowledge and wisdom from expert counsel.


Vox - Search addiction, recovery, etc. Many great resources. Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission is simple: Explain the news. Politics, public policy, world affairs, pop culture, science..


Psychology Today Addiction Basics - A primer on the science of addiction many great readable articles on symptoms, causes, and treatment.


Recovery Today - Online magazine about recovery


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Useful Books

Some print resources for you.
(Links are to the Amazon, unless otherwise noted - Note, your purchase from Amazon can help Lifering (Details)with a donation that doesn't cost you a cent. You may also find these books in your local bookstores or libraries)


NEW FROM LIFERING PRESS!

lsr ring 20x20  Humanly Possible - Stories of success in recovery from substance addiction. There are many such books, but what sets this one apart is its emphasis on secular recovery. This book shows that recovery without religion is not only conceivable but readily achievable.


 These LifeRing Books available at LIfering.org

lsr ring 20x20  Recovery by Choice: A Workbook - Living and Enjoying Life Free of Alcohol and Other Drugs. More on the Workbook here, including PDF sample chapters.

lsr ring 20x20  Empowering Your Sober Self - LifeRing Approach to Addiction Recovery

lsr ring 20x20  How Was Your Week - Bringing People Together in Recovery the LifeRing Way -- A Handbook


The Power of Now - by Eckhart Tolle - NYT Best seller on living in the present


The Power of Habit - by Charles Duhigg - NY Times investigative reporter writes about the most up to date work on what habits are and how to go about changing them. Charles Duhiggs Website


Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions - Daniel Ariely - When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we're making smart, rational choices. But are we?

Quit Like A Woman (Amazon link) - by Holly Whitaker, the founder and CEO of Tempest (formerly Hip Sobriety). Read reviews and an excerpt. female symbol 20x20


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Podcasts

Podcasts on recovery topics
(Some titles subscribe to. Some are single episodes with a guest or topic of interest to the recovery community)


12 Recovery Podcasts - A listing from The Temper - Many of these may be of particular interest to women. female symbol 20x20


The Bubble Hour - Hosted by Jean M., a sober woman dedicated to breaking down the walls of stigma and denial surrounding the disease of alcoholism. female symbol 20x20


Hidden Brain - From NPR. Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices ...


Choiceology - Host Katy Milkman shares stories of irrational decision making—from historical blunders to the kinds of everyday errors that could affect your future.


Sober Podcasts - An aggregation site with more than a dozen podcast links


Recovery Collective with Tom Leu - Brings together a collective of guest contributors, authors, speakers, and artists as they talk shiFt™ to educate and empower about recovery in its many forms.


 

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