Category: Research

Stop Bashing AA

by The Freedom Model for Addictions | Feb 28, 2022 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Prevention, Addiction Recovery, Addiction Solutions, Addictions, Articles, Non 12 Step Programs, Relapse Prevention, Research, Uncategorized

“Why do you guys have to bash AA so much?” For more than 30 years I’ve heard people say this, or something like it to me and my colleagues here at the Freedom Model. It’s an interesting question. Curiously, the wording of this inquiry is almost always the same, even...

How Is Your Dry January Going?

by The Freedom Model for Addictions | Jan 14, 2022 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Prevention, Addiction Recovery, Addiction Solutions, Addictions, Articles, Non 12 Step Programs, Relapse Prevention, Research, Uncategorized

For the past few years there has been a movement that began largely on social media called Dry January. This is where people pledge to remain abstinent from alcohol for the entire month of January. Certainly there are health benefits to not drinking, especially if you...

Drugs Don’t Have a Mind of Their Own

by The Freedom Model for Addictions | Nov 5, 2021 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Prevention, Addiction Recovery, Addiction Solutions, Addictions, Articles, Non 12 Step Programs, Relapse Prevention, Research, Uncategorized

“Drinking makes my stress go away.” “I get things done when I do meth. It makes me motivated.” “Drinking makes me more social, I don’t feel so nervous when I’m buzzed up.” “I can say the things I normally can’t say. Substances help with my lack of assertiveness.”...

Social and Environmental Factors DO NOT Cause Addiction

by The Freedom Model for Addictions | May 19, 2021 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Prevention, Addiction Recovery, Addiction Solutions, Addictions, Articles, Non 12 Step Programs, Relapse Prevention, Research, Uncategorized

In The Freedom Model for Addictions, Escape the Treatment and Recovery Trap, we discuss the erroneous, but common idea, that environmental and social factors cause addiction. The fact that both your environment (lifestyle, home, and career, etc.) and your social life...

Here are 5 Benefits of Spending Some Time Abstinent

by The Freedom Model for Addictions | May 18, 2021 | Abstinence and Moderation, Addiction Help, Addiction Prevention, Addiction Recovery, Addiction Solutions, Addictions, Articles, Non 12 Step Programs, Relapse Prevention, Research, Uncategorized

In addiction recovery, you have two options: heavy, uncontrolled substance use that leads to jails, institutions, and death, or complete abstinence from all substances whether you like it or not. And in treatment/recovery the primary motivator for abstinence is...

It’s Time to Rethink Addiction

by The Freedom Model for Addictions | May 13, 2021 | Addiction Help, Addiction Prevention, Addiction Recovery, Addiction Solutions, Addictions, Articles, Non 12 Step Programs, Relapse Prevention, Research, Uncategorized

What do you do when you make a mistake? Do you ruminate on it for hours, days, or even weeks? Do you beat yourself up about it, feeling as if you must be a terrible, broken person to have done such a thing? Or do you fix it, if possible, and move on from it a bit...