S M a R T Self Management An

S ELF M ANAGEMENT M ® A ND SMART Recovery R ECOVERY T RAINING NEWS & VIEWS Bringing Science and Reason to Self-Help with Addictive Behavior Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Thomas Litwicki, President Emmett Velten, PhD, Editor Register Now to Join Us in Chicago on October 16–18! Don’t miss our Annual Gathering on breakfast, lunch and program, and Sunday October 16–18, 2009 in Chicago! breakfast and program. Preferably, all of you will show up for the Additional information and registra- fun, the fellowship, and the facts… tion is available online via our website: facilitators, volunteer advisors, board www.smartrecovery.org. Click on the members, and the many members of our Please Join us in October for our Annual face-to-face and our online community. Gathering link. SMART Progress It’s an incredibly rewarding experience, Don’t delay in registering! We look as well as an opportunity to share your forward to your participation! thoughts, ideas, and experience to help grow the organization! Registration is $79, and includes the Inside: Friday evening meet/greet dinner, Saturday President’s Letter See You In The Next Issue ...... 1 SMART Progress Register Now to Join Us in Chicago on Come Enjoy the FUN in FUNdraising! October 16–18! ...... 1 November 7, 2009, SMART Come Enjoy the FUN in FUNdraising! . . . .1 4-Point ProgramSM ...... 1 ® President’s Letter Recovery Online will host its 11th November 7, 2009 SMART Recovery® anniversary FUNdraiser Event. FUNdraiser Event Schedule ...... 2 Festivities begin at midnight eastern Facilitator Support and Tool Time Sessions . . 3 Articles are Welcome! ...... 3 time and wrap up at 9 p.m. There’ll Tool Time Training ...... 4 See You In The Next Issue be fun for all and at the same time A Warm Welcome to Lorie Hammerstrom! . . . .5 You may look forward to the next raise money to help support SMART International Development Recovery®. We have an amazing SMART Recovery® Australia Bulleted Update .5 President’s Letter in the Winter ® lineup of guest speakers, including: SMART Recovery Alberta Update . . . . . 6 Issue of the News & Views. Book Review (Continued on page 2) The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure: A Holistic Approach to Total Recovery . . . .7 SMART Ideas ® Getting a New SMART Recovery® The SMART Recovery The program offers specific tools and Meeting Started ...... 10 SM Are there Secrets to Successfully Passing the Hat? 4-Point Program techniques for each of the program points: 10 Garage Sale Yields over $1,000 for Purchase of ® Point #1: Enhancing and maintaining ® he SMART Recovery SMART Recovery Handbooks ...... 10 motivation to abstain (Self-Management And Expectations ...... 11 Recovery Training) Point #2: Coping with urges Take a Hike! ...... 12 T People Power program helps individuals Point #3: Managing thoughts, feelings and Celebrating Four Years Sober Today . . . . .12 gain independence from behavior (problem-solving) A Long-time SMART Recovery® addictive behavior. Volunteer Celebrates 90 Years! ...... 13 Our efforts are based on Point #4: Balancing momentary and New York City - Thank You to Peter! ...... 13 scientific knowledge and evolve enduring4-Point satisfactions Program SM Deadly Deal ...... 13 as scientific knowledge evolves. (lifestyle balance) Prison Outreach Realizing Self-Empowerment ...... 14 SMART Progress Continued

November 7, 2009 SMART Recovery® FUNdraiser Event Schedule (Eastern Standard Time)

7:00 a.m. – What’s Up Down Under? (an update on SMART Recovery® AU) 8:00 a.m. – Bill White The History of Addiction Treatment & Recovery in America 9:00 a.m. – Michler Bishop – Is managing an addiction like managing diabetes? And is that the case for everyone? 10:00 a.m. – Reid Hester – Overcoming Addictions – A SMART Recovery® Interactive Internet Course. 11:00 a.m. – Anne Fletcher – Sober for Good 12 Noon – Tom Horvath – Predictions about SMART Recovery®’s future 1:00 p.m. – Julie Meyers – Successfully Passing the Hat 2:00 p.m. – Robert Meyers – CRAFT (Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training) 3:00 p.m. – Emmett Velten (REBT for People with Co-occurring Problems) and Jonathan Von Breton – Ask The Pros 4:00 p.m. – Thomas Litwicki – Gambling Addictions 5:00 p.m. – Volunteer Hour – How to become a SMART Recovery® Volunteer 6:00 p.m. – Telethon Begins – hosted by Fall Fundraiser Committee 7:00 p.m. – Telethon Continues 7:30 p.m. – Auctions Ends – telethon continues until 8:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. – Old Timers Hour

The fun-filled, treasure-packed auction is better and way bigger this year. Items include:

Tim Tams from Australia (you haven’t lived until you have eaten Tim Tams!) Autographed copies of several books such as this brand new first edition by Bill Knaus called End Procrastination Now! and the new book by Emmett Velten and Patricia Penn, REBT for People with Co-occurring Problems: Albert Ellis in the Wilds of Arizona.

Published by the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Self-Help Network, Inc. D.B.A. SMART Recovery® 7304 Mentor Avenue, Suite F, Mentor, OH 44060 • Phone: 440/951-5357 • Fax: 440/951-5358 • E-mail: [email protected] • www.smartrecovery.org

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 2 SMART Progress Continued

There is no end to the creative talent and crazy fun you will find at our annual auction. So come enjoy the fun, listen to some fantastic speakers, and maybe find a special treasure!

Facilitator Support and Tool Time Sessions Have you ever wished you could have a little extra support for your meetings? Have you wondered what happened to YOUR turn at a meeting? Experienced trainers including several members of the Board of Directors from SMART Recovery® have agreed to offer support for meeting facilitators and volunteers. Each month you can participate in three meetings. Each first Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern and first Saturday at 11 a.m. Eastern, there will be a tool training session. These will include SMART Recovery® tools and Motivational Interviewing viewpoints to help you learn an effective non-confrontational approach to leading your Hand made jewels like these by Alby: meeting. (See schedule on Page 4.) In addition, each month’s second Monday is Fresh Start Monday. Tom Horvath and Lorie Hammerstrom (aka Hammer) will offer a meeting for you to discuss your own life struggles and challenges. Another benefit is that you will get a chance to see how a seasoned veteran runs a meeting. All of these meetings take place in the SMART Recovery® PalTalk voice meeting room. To sign up, visit www.paltalk.com. If you need help, contact Hammer at [email protected] for further help. The password for the tool meetings will be trams. The password for the Fresh Start Monday meeting will be fresh. As well, you can join any of the regularly scheduled SMART Recovery® meetings, using the password donate. A calendar of these meetings and all other SMART Recovery® events is in Google Calendar. You can find a link to Google Calendar on our homepage at SMARTRecovery.org.

Articles are Welcome! If you have a story or information you would like to see published in the News & Views, please feel free to submit a copy to Emmett Velten, Editor, via e-mail: [email protected]. Unsolicited And lovely works of photographic art such as material is most welcome! this piece by SugarLocks

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 3 SMART Progress Continued

Tool Time Training Date Time Presenter Topic Oct 3, 2009 11:00 a.m. Henry Steinberger DEARS - Motivation Interviewing Technique Oct 6, 2009 8:00 p.m. Sam29 Exchange Vocabulary Oct 12, 2009 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday Nov 7, 2009 7:00 a.m. Fall FUNdraiser Guest Speakers Begin Nov 7, 2009 6:00 p.m. Fall FUNdraiser Telethon Nov 9, 2009 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday Dec 1, 2009 8:00 p.m. Charlie aka ChasOhio USA/UOA Dec 5, 2009 11:00 a.m. Jonathan vonBreton CBA/De-Awfulizing Dec 14, 2009 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday Jan 2, 2010 11:00 a.m. Emmett Velten ABCs of REBT Urge Coping Jan 5, 2010 8:00 p.m. Brett Saarela Stages of Change Jan 11, 2010 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday Feb 2, 2010 8:00 p.m. Joe Gerstein DISARM/Hierarchy of Values Feb 6, 2010 11:00 a.m. Joe Gerstein Time Oriented Cost Benefit Matrix Feb 8, 2010 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday Mar 2, 2010 8:00 p.m. Henry Steinberger DEARS - Motivation Interviewing Technique Mar 6, 2010 11:00 a.m. Hammer aka Lorie Dire Need For Approval Mar 8, 2010 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday April 3, 2010 11:00 a.m. Tom Horvath Goals and Values April 6, 2010 8:00 p.m. Hammer aka Lorie JAMMED SLOP or cognitive distortions April 12, 2010 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday May 1, 2010 11:00 a.m. Charlie aka ChasOhio ABC of REBT Emotional Upsets May 4, 2010 8:00 p.m. Richard Rehearsals/Role Playing: Brainstorming May 10, 2010 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday June 1, 2010 8:00 p.m. Jonathan vonBreton CBA/De-Awfulizing June 5, 2010 11:00 a.m. Brett Saarela Stages of Change June 14, 2010 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday July 3, 2010 11:00 a.m. Richard Message Board tips and tricks July 6, 2010 8:00 p.m. Emmett Velten ABCs of REBT Urge Coping July 12, 2010 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday Aug 3, 2010 8:00 p.m. Hammer aka Lorie Dealing with Anger/Anxiety/Depression Aug 7, 2010 11:00 a.m. Tom Horvath Core beliefs/root problems Aug 9, 2010 8:00 p.m. Horvath/Hammer Fresh Start Monday

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SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 4 Melbourne. We continue to build SMART Progress Continued relationships with the indigenous communities. • We received government grant A Warm Welcome to Lorie money from Juvenile Justice to run Hammerstrom! the teen SMART Recovery® in all their Juvenile Justice Centres in ® SMART Recovery New South Wales. has gained the • SMART Recovery® has collaborated benefit of an inspira- International Development with Jewish House and Sydney Clinic tional new Board to build stronger Through Care options. Member, Lorie ® Hammerstrom SMART Recovery Australia • NDARC (National Drug and (a.k.a. Hammer in Alcohol Research Centre) wants to Lorie at the 2008 Annual Gathering our online commu- Bulleted Update do a survey or evaluation on ® nity). Lorie has been with the by Jim Villamor, SMART Recovery® AU Coordinator SMART Recovery . organization for a number of years, first • Our new website is up and running. • Jim conducted two trainings in benefiting from the program via the We have had a lot of positive feed- Brisbane to tap strong local interest online community, then “paying it back on it. in SMART Recovery®. forward” by becoming an online facili- • Google Maps now directs people to • Jim and Josette conducted a training tator, member of the online FUNdraising the groups in Australia. in Walgett, New South Wales. committee, Message Board Liaison and • Jim did a three-hour in-house volunteer, Distance Training Facilitator/ • We created Certificates for training. This training was adver- Hostess, Facilitator Support Meeting Attendance and Training for tised on the website and on the Hostess, Tool Training facilitator and attendees to receive after completion ADCA website. There were so many coordinator, and now, a member of the of training. responses that Jim planned addi- Board. Her unstinting enthusiasm for the • We won a grant from NADA tional trainings. organization and the people we serve is (Network Alcohol and Drugs always evident! Lorie is also serving as Association) to start BE SMART • Jim and Josette trained eight people the Board of Directors’ Liaison to Family and Career’s group in NSW. at Job Centre. They already have a ® ® highly popular SMART Recovery SMART Recovery Online. • Josette attended a seminar, “Working Group in Wagga Wagga at the Welcome, Lorie! with Indigenous Communities,” in Job Centre. Editor’s Note: Buy the book! Under the ® Influence: Reflections SMART Recovery Program Tools & Techniques of Albert Ellis in the Work of Others, The SMART Recovery® 4-Point ProgramSM employs a Participants are Tucson: See Sharp variety of tools and techniques to help individuals gain Press, 2008. encouraged to learn independence from addictive behavior. how to use each tool • Change Plan Worksheet and to practice the • Cost/Benefit Analysis tools and techniques • ABCs of REBT (Rational Emotive These Behavior Therapy) for Urge Coping as they progress tools • ABCs of REBT for Emotional Upsets toward Point 4 of the • 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 Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 5 International Development Continued

• Josette and Jim did training at people now attend SMART Recovery® Kedesh House in Wollongong. They meetings in addition to whatever they asked us to attend the first meeting. choose to explore spirituality. This • Also in Wollongong, Darcy House includes 12 step, church, bible study, and ® personnel requested training. They meditation. The SMART Recovery are a drop-in centre for all kinds of program coupled with their own spiritual people and they seem to like the program is turning out to be a powerful SMART Recovery® philosophy. 1-2 punch in their fight with addiction. • We did a presentation at the ATCA Not too long ago, the management of Conference (Australian Therapeutic The Salvation Army Centre of Hope Communities Association). contacted me to ask me to come and present the SMART Recovery® program • We flew by three-seater into Coffs Harbour, hitched a ride north to to their residential clients enrolled in Dr. Joe Gerstein presented SMART Recovery® to Australian prison officials their in-house recovery program. The Byron, where we hired a WWII during a recent visit to Australia vintage jeep to get to Lismore and Centre of Hope is a Christian, 12 step Ballina to do some trainings. From SMART Recovery® Alberta Update based centre. I am pleased to say that the there, we pressed on by pack mule program blew them away. In fact, the by Curtis Boudreau – President SMART Recovery® Alberta to meet with local groups. We monthly presentation is now continued our trek on foot to Hello all fellow SMART folk J MANDATORY for all of the in-house residents. Many of the men now attend visit the halfway house named Business is booming in Alberta! We SMART Recovery® regularly in addition Balund-A at Tabulum, which is are growing and growing. In fact, the to their spiritual programs. located near Casino. only thing hindering the growth is our • We did training in Liverpool for lack of trained facilitators. We are Our weekly presentation at Renfrew 25 people. One of our current working at increasing our facilitator Detox Centre is turning out to be the facilitators, Christine Nickel, count, but it takes time. I am proud to place we seem to attract many new ® works closely with the Catholic say we have an excellent team of people to SMART Recovery meetings. I Churches in Liverpool. facilitators and contributors. have had quite a few people vigorously shake my hand stating they are re- • Jim provided In-House SMART Since the last update, SMART ® invigorated to see a new path for their Recovery Training. Recovery® Alberta continues to give recovery to take, a non-spiritual one, presentations at five different centres on • Turning Point has requested more one where they can finally look in the an ongoing basis. The newest place that training. We would like to open mirror for a solution. Those who are contacted me to come and present for this training up to other members spiritual are pleased to hear that I attend their clients was the SAILL Program. of the community as well. 12 step meetings myself, and yes, you can This stands for Substance Abuse in • Jim will attend the Chicago Annual do both. Later Life. It was an honor to do the Gathering. I feel blessed and honored to bring ® presentation, and will be returning in • November 1-6, SMART Recovery the fall for another group of participants fresh air to the fight with addiction in and Department of Corrective and alumni who are interested in Alberta. For so long there has been Services will collaborate on a SMART Recovery®. There was interest nothing available other than 12-step presentation at the APSAD in opening up a weekly meeting for the spirituality. Finally, with SMART Conference in Darwin. senior citizens who have mobility issues; Recovery, people can finally exercise • November 16-18, Josette and wouldn’t that be great! choice in how they choose to tackle Jim will visit Adelaide, where their addictions. I am pleased to see that the polariza- there is strong interest in tion between cognitive and spiritual Until next time, SMART Recovery®. rooms is diminishing in Alberta. Many Curtis

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 6 Prentiss claims that his Malibu International Development Continued program, Passages, is the best treatment Book Review facility in the world, and he repeatedly uses such words as “completely cured.” He has other people ascribe heavenly attributes to it. (p. 173), asserting that What’s that? Why it’s the SMART God lives in Malibu, that Passages is the Recovery® Handbook, now available in best place in the world, producing Mandarin Chinese! miracle cures, complete recovery, and a Karen Gabe, an American teaching ray of healing sunshine (p. 202) with an psychology at Nanjing University in extremely low rate of relapse. What’s that? Why it’s the SMART Recovery® Handbook, now available in Nanjing, China, contacted SMART As you read The Cure, you will notice RecoveryMandarin® some Chinese! time ago to offer to have Book Review glaring contradictions. Prentiss seemed her Peer Counseling students translate The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure: to have written, and published, his first the SMARTKaren Recovery Gabe,® Handbook an American. (The teaching A Holistic psychology Approach to atTotal Nanjing Recovery Universityapproximation, in Nanjing, and was unaware of some studentsChina, arecontacted incorporating SMART the SMART Recovery someby Chris Prentisstime ago to offer to have her Peer ofCounseling the contradictions in his ideas that an Recovery® program into their studies.) students translate the SMART RecoveryA proper Handbook. review of(The Chris students Prentiss’s are incorporatingeditor could the have resolved in making the Great thanks are due to Li Feihan, the SMART Recovery program into theirheavily studies.) advertised Great thanks book, The are Alcoholism due to Li Feihan,book coherentthe and better focused. In a translator, and Chen Si, who did the and Addiction Cure, would fill a chapter, number of passages, Prentiss expresses proofing.translator, Per andKaren, Chen they Si, did who an did the proofing. Per Karen, they did an outstanding job with if not a small book, and I’d like to do important, even radical ideas, which outstandingthe translation, job with and the SMART translation, Recovery and is proud to offer the Handbook in Mandarin that. For now, the beloved editor of this could easily fit with REBT. However, SMARTChinese. Recovery Thank® youis proud Karen, to offer Li andthe Chen! newsletter, namely myself, informs me most of the rest of the book leads away Handbook in Mandarin Chinese. Thank that brevity is required. That being the from them deep into la-la land, or does you Karen, Li and Chen! And…what’s this? case, I’ll introduce my take on Prentiss’s not follow through on the promise of And…what’s this? book, which you can keep in mind as you those sections. read it yourself, and maybe in later news- For example, on page 146 Prentiss letter issues, or elsewhere, I can say more. says the following regarding the causes ﻛﺘﺎﺏ ﺩﺳﺘﻲ Dickens’ famed opening to A Tale of of dependency: “I do not list alcohol, That wouldThat bewould from ourbe fromnew Farsi our new Farsi SMART Recovery® Handbook, kindlyaddictive drugs, or addictive behavior as SMART Recovery® Handbook, kindly Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it translated by friend, Dr. Fariborz Arbasi,was thein Iran! worst Fariborzof times; itparticipated was the age ofin onecauses of our of dependency because they are translatedFacilitator by friend,Distance Dr. TrainingFariborz Arbasi, sessions, and has a meeting underway in Iran. Henot also causes; they do not even enter into in Iran! Fariborz participated in one of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,” are continues to make presentations to a varietyapropos of to professionalPrentiss’s book, groups especially, to share but thethe information problem.” Similarly, he smacks down our Facilitator Distance Training genetics as an underlying talent, which sessions,about SMARTand has a Recovery®.meeting underway Thank in you,not Fariborz! exclusively, the worst and the foolishness parts. In a longer review, I will has no ability to make anyone do Iran. He also continues to make presen- anything at all. Besides myself, I have tations to a variety of professional groups group the problems I saw in Prentiss’s book according to five C’s: Contradictions, never heard anyone make the point to share the information about SMART that thoughts change chemicals, but Recovery®. Thank you, Fariborz! Causes, Claims, Comedy, and Chris.

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SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 7 Book Review Continued

Prentiss does so. As well, he says that problem, that “the beast of addiction” People are medicating their fears and disturbance-causing beliefs include (AA + RR!) is sneaky (cunning?), and pain, according to Prentiss. He says that those inconsistent with cause-and-effect others. Though he says addiction is pain, meaning psychological pain, is at reality, but does not integrate that idea psychologically caused, even after the bottom of every person’s dependency into his thinking. psychological cure, one drink of alcohol (p. 141). If you get the correct cause of Prentiss includes long, confusing will inevitably lead to full re-addiction. dependency, you get healing and cure sections on chemical imbalance, which Causes and Cures (p. 132). “Addictions are merely symptoms of underling conditions. Once has taken over from the inner child and Four main notions exist about the rela- you discover what your underlying other fictions as the cause of everything tionship between substance abuse/ conditions are and heal them, your bad. He gives examples of clients who dependence disorders and other mental addiction will disappear” (p. 184). “… found out they had chemical imbalances, disorders, and some people subscribe to one when you discover what is really causing and then got cured. “As it turned out, or another of them and argue for their your addiction and heal it, your craving Joseph had an untreated chemical favorite. Prentiss is one of those people. will cease and you will be able to effort- imbalance, …” and then went on to Anyway, the four causation theories are: abject happiness (p. 151). lessly stop.” 1. Psychiatric disorders cause substance Prentiss believes that insight cures the A cause of chemical imbalances can abuse/dependence disorders. This is be nasty childhood events, repressed of dependency and gives many examples because people resort to drugs as self- course. On pp. 152-153, we find a great throughout the book of seemingly medication, which means that if deal of nonsense about suppressed miracle cures (p. 132). “… if you get the psychiatric problems are treated memories that, fortunately, the client correct causes of addiction, you get successfully, substance abuse/depen- “got… out, [and] no longer craved healing and cure (p. 139). Sobriety is dence will fade away. alcohol.” Simone, for example, believed easy, he says, once you heal the under- she was ugly and had a chemical 2. Substance abuse/dependence causes lying conditions that led to dependency. imbalance. While she believed she psychiatric disorders, and the latter Sometimes, getting the correct insight was ugly, she looked down to hide her will remit after substance abuse/ takes a bit. You might need a hypnother- “well-developed breasts.” [Well!] Help, dependence ceases. apist, such as the one who penned part however, was at hand. Chris Prentiss told 3. Common factors cause both of Prentiss’s book, who will take you to her she was beautiful, and she became a substance abuse/dependence and an inner space where there are answers professional model! (Very possibly, she psychiatric disorders. and solutions “to all ailments.” For that became the Italian super model to happen, though, may require releasing 4. Psychiatric disorders and substance mentioned as the simple farm boy’s love repressed trauma, and releasing feelings abuse/dependence contribute to each object in the Rosetta Stone ad most air and the patterns of sabotage and the other and interact, no matter which travelers have admired on the back cover need for alcohol and drugs. It seems that came first. of in-flight shopping magazines.) the hypnotherapist uncovered repressed Prentiss emphatically cleaves to Prentiss freely bashes the AA memories of abuse that were “buried in notion #1. philosophy as (p. 142) “quite damaging,” the subconscious mind.” Repressed and delightfully thrashes the disease According to Prentiss, 100% of addic- memories are not to be pooh-poohed, it model, labeling, and lifelong meetings. tions are caused by dependency, and seems. Because (p. 250-251) they can The reason this has not caused more psychological problems cause depen- “become poison to us and will manifest squeals of protest is that Prentiss also dency. He slams the disease theory in our lives as diseases of some sort.” adheres to many 12-step ideas. As repeatedly, for instance saying (p. 124) To remedy that unfortunate state of examples, he believes in “full-blown that the Disease Theory kept people affairs, sometimes the therapist has to use alcoholism,” dry drunks, that doctors from looking for underling causes, which age regression (p. 252). “Then in therapy have to have had a problem in order to are at the bottom of their dependency. I took her back to the very first time she work well with others with the same had felt unloved. This had to do with

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 8 Book Review Continued her mother’s response to her when she The therapists at Passages wrote a On p. 267 a reprise of Bill W’s white was an infant… in the crib.” [italics in number of the chapters of The light of the God of the preachers, when the original]. Alcoholism and Addiction Cure, which is one of Prentiss’s therapists at Passages The longest-running example of his rather reminiscent of the Big Book intones to what must have been a theory’s efficacy is that of his son, Pax. It (Alcoholics Anonymous) of AA. While stunned client: “I command in the name seems that Pax became a heroin addict, purported letters to Prentiss included in of the pure white light of God, all nega- and he had many adventures and close the book are in his writing style, the tive energy to leave!!!” calls that liven up the book in a long extra chapters in the last third of the Is Prentiss an original thinker? section you’d think is fiction (if you book do indeed seem to have written by Possibly. He makes no references at all to didn’t know better). However, it turned various of Prentiss’s employees (thera- SMART Recovery®, any of the other out that Pax’s pain and dependency were pists). For the most part, their ideas are non-12-step alternatives; no reference to caused by his low self-esteem, and that juvenile, anti-scientific, and wince- court decisions about mandatory 12-step was caused by the fact that his dad, Chris producing. They say all manner of odd attendance; no mention of evidence- Prentiss, had so many accomplishments, and over-the-top things, and believe in based treatments; no mention of Miller, which are then listed in impressive and practice regression to past lives, the Marlatt, CBT, Ellis, Beck, naltrexone, detail. Luckily, though, Pax had that walking wounded inner child, “body Campral, Motivational Interviewing, etc. insight and that was the last he ever memories” (trauma may be lodged in, He does not refer even once to a single used drugs. He now works with his dad say, one’s adenoids), traumas imprinted one of the 18 types of treatment Hester at Passages. in the subconscious mind, “soul wounds,” and Miller identified in their Handbook “cellular memories” (no, not cell phone, Here is more detail about the cause of of Alcoholism Treatment Approaches: but your individual cells have memo- Pax’s low self-esteem. His dad does, “… Effective Alternatives, as having a ries), and vibrational frequencies (get so many wonderful things: he writes preponderance of scientific support as your mind out of the gutter!). books, has written, directed and efficacious in treatment of alcohol prob- produced a feature film, conducts semi- lems. Nevertheless, Prentiss’s crew of nars, has created several therapists of various stripes, successful companies, is a effect a near-100% cure rate. master negotiator, has tons of 1 An exception appears to friends and people who ask be that Pax’s writing style, him for advice, owns real oddly enough, is remarkably estate in different places, he like his dad’s. rides horses, is well traveled, completely articulate and holds brilliant conversations that I wish I could participate in but can’t because they’re over my head.” However, p. 122, the cure came when Pax got the insight that he was not at all like his practicalrecovery.com dad1, namely “confident, strong, handsome, smart, capable.” All was not lost: “He 858-453-4777 [his dad] told me when he was my age he didn’t know anything either.” La Jolla (San Diego), CA; PSY7732

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 9 • Take advantage of free radio feeling as if they’re an important part of promotions (rock, country, jazz, the meeting and the organization and public radio are willing to (because they are). When it comes time promote recovery groups) for “hat passing” (I don’t actually use a • Place advertisements on free local hat, I just ask folks to put their donation television calendars on the table), I remind them that support of the Central Office is impor- SMART Ideas • Offer SMART Recovery® to health- tant to the stability and growth of the care facilities, local jails, churches, organization. I suggest that they be as and halfway houses (volunteer generous as they can afford to be, and speaking goes a long way!) guess what? They are! • Delegate, delegate, delegate (one ® So perhaps the “secret” is simply person cannot do it all!) Getting a New SMART Recovery making it clear to the members that the • Find sources to aid in photocopies, opportunity to give and to support the Meeting Started donations, etc. by Christopher Wilke, Facilitator, Wausau, WI organization — to keep it available to • Set realistic goals people in need — is what provides the When we began to organize a SMART • strong outpouring of donations. I also ® Initial cash outlays may be needed Recovery meeting here in Wausau, believe that having camaraderie among • Promote, promote — anyway you can Wisconsin, we understood that success the members helps, and we’re fortunate would require patience and hard work. If you show patience and understand to have a strong group of “regulars.” Wausau had a meeting in the past, but that getting started takes work, this pays So, don’t be shy when it comes to attendance was poor and it disbanded. dividends. Remember: Rome was not asking for donations. It helps the We were determined to learn from its built in a day. Anybody who wants to members feel good about giving back. short life. Our first meeting, on the other discuss getting a meeting started, please And we all know how good that hand, was very well attended: just two of feel free to contact Chris 715-846-0159 can feel. us who were familiar to SMART or Robert 715-571-6394. We are Recovery® through the Wisconsin willing to help in any way that we can. Garage Sale Yields over Department of Corrections. Good luck! Nevertheless, we have grown, and $1,000 for Purchase of SMART ® after less than one year, a meeting may Are there Secrets to Successfully Recovery Handbooks have as many as eighteen attendees. The Passing the Hat? by Howard Pellett, Facilitator public is now aware of SMART by Dylan Barmmer, La Jolla, CA Facilitator Recovery®. We are currently promoting Howard Pellett & Son(s) has partici- SMART Recovery® at the local health Because of the strong support provided pated for eight years in the annual Ship facilities, working with the county jail, by our local Volunteer Advisor, Dr. Tom Wreck Day sale in Anacortes, WA. This and advising with the “TIPS” program Horvath, the San Diego area groups sale, held on the third Saturday of each (Treatment Instead of Prison), all in provide the Central Office with all of July, is the largest garage sale in order to get SMART Recovery® out to the hat-passing money collected each Washington. It takes up several blocks in the people. month. We are proud to say that collec- downtown Anacortes. Each year, Pellett tively, that generally amounts to between & Son(s) has donated its proceeds to a In building SMART Recovery® in $700 and $800 a month. Recently, the local charity. We decided this year’s sale Wausau, a few things seemed especially Central Office asked if one of us would proceeds would help buy SMART important: ® be willing to share our “secrets to Recovery Member’s Handbooks, • Find a central location for meetings success,” and I agreed to do so... even including some for inmates at (bus routes and walking very though I’m not sure I have any “secrets.” Monroe prison. important to many people) In my case, I try to run a very open, We distributed our flyers primarily on • Use free newspaper advertisements collaborative, and fun meeting. I try to Guemes Island, and they described this get all of the attendees involved and year’s charitable purpose — prison

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 10 SMART Ideas Continued programs. Months before the sale, people regular quarterly contributors. If I’m on C = Consequences started to send donations, and we stored top of things, I send another reminder at Disappointment and cognitive them in Pellett & Son(s) garage. Well least a week in advance. putdowns, directed at the untimely prior to the sale date, we also filled a For this issue, the first notice went out authors and at me. Pellett & Son(s) van. Packing, pricing, as scheduled, but I failed to send the and storing took a good part of a day, D = Disputing Irrational Belief follow-up until, well… the day before Who said the authors ABSOLUTELY and then we moved everything from the articles were due. Guemes Island to stay with a friend in MUST meet the deadline every quarter? Anacortes. Bright and brutally early, up In Hank Robb’s case, reminders are My busy life and workload prevented me we got at 4:30 a.m. on Ship Wreck Sale not necessary. Hank ALWAYS gets his from remembering to issue the second day and moved out to the sale location, article submitted on time, often even a reminder in a timely manner. where we arranged donations on tables couple of weeks before the deadline. I Does my forgetting make me a failure? and started selling to the early birds. was certain Hank must have sent me his Who said the issue will stink? Look at all article, and I had simply misplaced it. A The people are the most fun part, and of the articles from people who are not note from Hank indicated that his life quarterly contributors! they made all the preliminary work has been hectic, and he would not be doubly or triply worth it. We dickered able to submit an article this quarter. Say E = Effective New Beliefs prices, made deals that make people what??? As if to make myself feel a little Busy people who volunteer their time happy, and worked toward selling as worse, I began shoulding. “People merit a bit of my time to send a gentle much as possible because who wants to SHOULD turn in their article on the reminder. While it would be lovely and have to pack and take stuff home? At first of the deadline month without my preferable if authors were always timely, 3:00 p.m., we put up a “free” sign, which having to remind them.” “It’s NOT but they do not HAVE TO be. There took care of just about everything other FAIR that I have to take time to remind may be times when their busy lives inter- than a few small boxes of genuine junk, them.” “This issue is going to stink fere with deadlines. (And remember, which we took to the dumpsters because I won’t have all the copy I Shari, most are usually very timely!) furnished by the City of Anacortes. SHOULD have.” While I would prefer that I had sent Customers have always bought every- the reminder sooner, life will go on, and thing worth buying—or getting free—by I believe an ABC would go something no lives are at stake. I did fail, but it does close of the sale at 4:30 p.m., and they like this (and any/all who are expert at not make me a failure. I am simply a came through like troopers. ABCs may feel free to correct me!): PERSON WHO did not meet her A = Activating Event We headed home by 5:00 p.m. with expectations. (And are my expectations $1,045 in hand to purchase SMART Not all News & Views articles made it always reasonable?) Recovery® Handbooks and to enjoy a by the publishing deadline, and I forgot If track record is any indicator, this delicious dinner prepared by Carol to send the requisite reminders. issue is going to be great! Readers won’t Pellett. What a beautiful and great day B = Beliefs even notice that I allowed myself the we spent in Anacortes! The regular contributors MUST send opportunity to upset myself! me their articles on time! I SHOULD While here, I would like to take this Expectations have sent the second reminder much by Shari Allwood (in place of Hank Robb’s quarterly article) opportunity to thank the authors who sooner. No, wait…I SHOULDN’T even provide quarterly articles—you are Anyone who has been involved in have to send reminders! This issue will terrific! And let me say to our volunteers publishing, even a quarterly publication be below par of my expectations; it’s and members who submit articles as ® like the SMART Recovery News & going to stink (as it MUSTN’T!) ideas and successes come to mind, you’re Views, knows that deadlines are awesome as well! important. A month before the articles are due, we send reminder notices to All readers may feel free to submit an article for any issue. We value your contributions!

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 11 could not bring myself to return there. SMART Ideas Continued Thankfully, a few days later I found SMART Recovery® On-Line, and I have • Your Goals — The X on the Map! been sober ever since. Take a Hike! There’s so much more to this story. by Charlie, Online Volunteer (with thanks to Betty) Above all, keep checking your position, and stay mindful of where I’ve learned that my life is not just about In the Tuesday night meeting, someone you want to go! “not drinking.” It isn’t about how long mentioned that the SMART Recovery® I’ve been sober. It’s about the choices I “widget” is a stylized compass rose that make every moment of my life. It’s about represents the SMART Recovery® living and enjoying “life’s rich pattern,” 4-Point ProgramSM. (There’s that widget) People Power experiencing and accepting whatever it brings. And it’s about using the SMART Recovery® tools and being creative and even learning Tai Chi for the first time. As many of you know, this last year To take that analogy a bit further, if was a whopper for me. I was in a serious ® SMART Recovery is our compass, let’s car crash with my partner. I evacuated look at some other elements… four times from the bushfires in Victoria. • CBA — Your Map My partner died suddenly in June and I The CBA is your map... it shows Celebrating Four Years had to put down our family pet a few where you want to go (what do I like days later. I’ve moved house three times about recovery?), and it shows what we Sober Today in two months and still am in a tempo- want to avoid (what don’t I like about by Questor7, SMART Recovery® Online Participant rary place. Sounds “awful,” doesn’t it? my addiction?) Moreover, certainly it sounds as if I have Four years and 30 days ago, I concluded many excuses to drink. • The ABCs — Your Machete that I needed to do something about my But you see, since I came to SMART The ABC’s let you cut down the drinking. I had not used my drug of ® Recovery , my attitude has changed in irrational thinking and other crap choice, which was pot, for over six years ways that are borderline miraculous. Yes, blocking your path… and clear the way and had noticed that my drinking had I’ve had a hard time. At times, I really to get to where you want to go. increased in both frequency and quan- feel down in the dumps. Yet I don’t tity. At the time, it did not occur to me • USA — Your Comfortable Hiking believe that there is ever an excuse to that I was using booze for the same Boots use or drink again. And I don’t tend to reasons I used pot: to numb myself. I awfulize much anymore. USA (Unconditional Self- kept trying to moderate but to no avail. Acceptance) lets you feel comfortable I celebrated my fourth year of sobriety Finally, I decided to see if I could go on your journey… rather than suffering by going to my first face-to-face SMART 30 days without a drink. And I the blisters of self-downing. Recovery® meeting. It was really a neat succeeded. On August 3, 2005, I decided thing to meet people in various stages of • DISARM — Your Trusty Side Pistol to have a drink to celebrate my sobriety. their recovery, share with them, and hear DISARM (Destructive Images & It seemed like a logical thing to do at the them explore their choices. Self-talk Awareness & Refusal Method) time !!. And I got hammered. It was lets you quickly dispatch what jumps the only time my partner did not want to So thank you, SMART Recovery®, for out at you along the way! drink with me. I drank alone and got helping me build such a solid founda- • Role play & Planning — Your Ropes very sick during the night and I fell and tion. If I hadn’t found SMART ® and Rigging broke my ankle. That was the final Recovery and quit drinking, today I blow. I knew I had to do something might be dead drunk—or dead! Role play & Planning Worksheets about my drinking. help you keep yourself from taking a Thank you, one and all, for your nasty fall by securing your path as I almost went back to AA where I support. I hope I can make a positive you go. had spent two years sober — but just contribution to the world as I travel down this new road.

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 12 People Power Continued

A Long-time SMART Recovery® Deadly Deal Volunteer Celebrates 90 Years! by Tim-San Diego, SMART Recovery® Online participant Dick Bozian, Hey buddy, Come here! Got a Then one day things don’t go former Board thrill for you now. well, just unneeded strife. member and all- Take just a little. You’ll love it, Spouse leaves you, get fired or around SMART and how! near loss of life. guy, celebrated his Hey, Why you bugging? It ain’t You think: “Hey maybe I’ll cut 90th birthday in no big deal! back on this crap”. August. Those A couple of pills or a shot…and But the hook’s now set deeply, who have the OH HOW YOU’LL FEEL! you feel like a sap. Dick at the August Birthday celebra- pleasure of knowing tion hosted by the local volunteers. Dick would guess Stop whining and moaning, No “But others have shook it” you him to be far less than 90. He has the reason to freak. bravely declare. energy and enthusiasm of people forty Those junkies and crack-heads Yet deep in your heart is a caul- years younger. (The author of this post is are only the weak. dron of fear. still barely under 50, and would NOT You’re strong, you’re together, you You’ve heard of the horrors of all want the challenge of equaling Dick’s won’t go that path. the withdrawals. energy!) You’ll stop when you want to The detox attempts and the horrible falls. Dick, here’s to many more happy and with none of that wrath. wonderful birthday celebrations. You’re no longer so certain of SMART Recovery® is grateful for all you So have a few more..Hey what your inner strength. do and have done, both in Cincinnati, could it hurt? Ms. Pharma misled you for too and for the organization! You’re a high end user…miles from all the dirt. long a length. New York City - Feel free use some more at each You question your way to face life chance just nab it. fully sober. Thank You to Peter! Who cares if those losers claim You wonder if the life that you SMART now it’s a habit. once knew is “over”. Recovery® NYC® wishes to offer our It makes you feel good. It makes Am I screwed? Am I f-cked?, just sincere thanks to you feel groovy. another statistic? long-time Director, Like you could star in a block- As my Drug of Choice grows less Board Member, buster movie. friendly and more sadistic. Treasurer, So money is tight and your These are the times when you Secretary, and all- friends start to wander. question your worth around supporter Peter enjoying a presentation at You get by and who cares just And wonder how soon you’ll be and mentor, Peter the 2008 SMART Recovery® how much you squander. planted in earth. Cusack. After many Annual Gathering years of service to the NYC area groups, You are one of the gang now, But this is the time to take new Peter is retiring. We will sorely miss his you’re one of the troop. perspective. undying enthusiasm, financial expertise, Each day your “helper” deals with You’ve followed Ms. Pharma with organizational skills, and program life’s goop. little directive. knowledge. On behalf of the many The doses get higher, but that Yes, you’ve screwed up a good people whose lives you touched, thank ain’t no thing. chunk of your life. you, Peter, for all you have done for us It’s under control and you’re still And recovery can’t guarantee the in NYC! the king. return of your wife.

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 13 people, this new experience brings a false very seeds that give rise to issues of enti- People Power Continued sense of control over societal perspec- tlement because the consequences for tives, otherwise known as Activating poor choices translate into what But by now you can see where the Events, as opposed to self-management. someone or some organization has not road you’re on’s heading. The idea of entitlement also causes done or will not do. But it’s all up to you for changing trouble because former prisoners often This is significant and an especially the setting. insist that they paid their debt, and pivotal point for those who choose absti- Detox is a bummer, recovery’s trying. therefore reality owes them something as nence from addictive behaviors as well as But the life you recover’s so much they return to the community. criminal and self-defeating thinking. better than dying. SMART Recovery®’s 4-Point SMART Recovery® moves one through ProgramSM applies to the entire array of managing ones life in a way that cele- You could play out the drug life to it’s the reentry process, because while it is a brates recovery of the whole self while logical end. path to abstinence, it also provides a recovering from participating in the Get a plot right adjacent to your foundation for positive change—an process of irrational thinking. It is an drug-addict friends. inspired vision for the future. To use the unlearning of what leads this population But why not say; “Screw That!” and past without using it to repeat oneself— in particular to places they really do not find a new start. that is our responsibility to ourselves. It wish to be, keeps them longer than they A great place to do that is right means being true to ourselves, which were willing to stay and most assuredly here at SMART. means being true to our history. This costs more than they were willing to pay. enables us to manage our lives better. At the very core of SMART Having successfully transitioned and Recovery® is the encouraging factor that reintegrated into the community and we are indeed our own best resource and listening to those who are still in the when that is resonated through our process, I say that freedom requires us to thoughts, feelings and actions it is highly Prison Outreach make choices based upon the present, likely that the very best will come to us not the past. Although the process takes because we have empowered ourselves to time and work, it is worthwhile to write live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. a new, more constructive history. Self- This epiphany allows us to realize that empowerment inspires the individual in the point of power is in the present and a way that no outside entity can match. we do have the authority to bring our From Beyond the Walls One’s thoughts about change have vision of the future for ourselves into the Realizing Self-Empowerment produced beneficial results. present as opposed to what we think by Barry A. Grant Behind every frustration is an unful- someone says or thinks about us. filled wish. We can amplify misery by Positively Speaking: The number 1 One of the most appealing elements of believing, “No one is going to hire me,” reason why people don’t already have SMART Recovery® for those who truly or, “Due to my felonious record, I’m what they want is that have learned not desire to change their manner of fated to be aberrated, so I might as well to let themselves want what they don’t thinking while making the transition do what I always did because it is all I think they can have. back into the community, is the self- know.” Such internal messages are the empowerment epiphany. With many

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©2009 ADASHN, Inc., 7304 Mentor Avenue, Suite F, 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.

SMART Recovery® News & Views Volume 15, Issue 4 • Fall 2009 Page 14