The Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly (ATQ), since its inception, has espoused an interprofessional approach to the treatment of and recovery from substance use disorders, with a primary focus on alcohol use disorders. The individual, familial, community, and societal dimensions of treatment and ongoing recovery of human suffering associated with substance use disorders. This issue of the ATQ addresses spiritual aspects of recovery across the life cycle together with aspects of treatment ranging from licensure and certification of addiction professionals to interventions with first-time driving under the influence (DUI) offenders. The importance of narrative and the ways in which grief can be resolved in conjunction with 12-Step approaches are also explored.
Spiritual and religious practices across the life cycle, as experienced in the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) community, are addressed by Montes and Tonigan. They identify some age related benefits from AA participation and highlight special aspects of spiritual and religious practices that should be targeted based on the age of an AA affliate. Osilla and her colleagues propose a cognitive-behavioral approach to the treatment of first-time DUI offenders, an approach which prevents future DUI occurrences and also promotes coping skills relevant to other life events and decisions. Counselors exercise a decisive role in treatment initiatives in the addiction field and differences. Simons and her coauthors compare levels of professional confidence and proficiency among counselors who are certified and those who are degreed and licensed. Degrees of comfort in dealing with clients with coexisting addiction and mental health disorders between the two groups are explored. A Danish study, authored by Emiliussen and his colleagues, focuses on how older adults with late-onset alcohol problems identify their condition in terms of issues at work and caring for their families, preferring to address their drinking problems through self- regulation and the avoidance of stigmatization.
The Perspectives section of this issue addresses elements of the inner world of persons’ experiencing recovery. Gee and her coauthors give full voice, in an aesthetic format, to a person journeying from addiction to recovery and ultimate serenity. Loss and grief are consistent features of alcohol use disorders and Colistra and Smith show how 12-Step and grief approaches can be integrated in dealing with alcohol-related losses.
In the concluding Book Review section, McGovern and White acknowledge the outstanding contribution Marc Galanter’s recent book, What is Alcoholics Anonymous? A Path from Addiction to Recovery, makes to a wide range of helping professionals, to individuals and family members seeking release from alcohol-related problems. They are highly appreciative of the author’s wisdom and experience, “a sage elder sharing what he has learned about AA in his work as an addiction psychiatrist over the span of half a century.”
Addressing the many issues associated with alcohol use disorders is challenging and hopefully this issue of the ATQ advances our understanding and ability to address these challenges. Your ongoing support of the ATQ, as authors and contributors, is deeply appreciated.