Recovery For Life

How to live a healthier life one day at a time.

by Harris Stratyner, Ph.D., CASAC

Collaboration in Treating the Individual with Addiction, Psychiatric Illness or Both

It takes a village to treat addiction issues

Published on May 18, 2010 by Harris B. Stratyner, Ph.D., CASAC in

In my almost 33 years working in the field of mental health and addiction, I have worked for psychiatric centers, general hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.

I launched inpatient rehabilitation services, detoxification programs, co-occurring disorder units in psychiatric settings and co-occurring disorder units in addiction facilities.

I started all sorts of outpatient programs and have been in private practice for many years.

I have been on mental health boards, addiction boards, and a trustee on the board of a college. I have been a professor at two year colleges, four year schools and medical universities. I have consulted with all kinds of captains of industry and have worked with law enforcement officials, commissioners, governors, congressmen and congresswomen, senators and even a president.

Across all these rich experiences, I have always found one thing in common; people truly care! Yes it's true, people care about other individuals. Addiction is so different then other diseases because of its unique bio-psycho-social nature, which touches everyone on so many levels.

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This illness has had an impact in some way on all individuals - an illness that cost society so much and therefore by definition it must involve every aspect of society if it is to be effectively dealt with.

In this great mosaic we call the United States, regardless of one's approach to mental health or addiction, one's research bent or even one's political affiliation, I have found that -- across the board -- people care about helping others with addiction issues. Oh, we may disagree about how to go about things at times, where it is most important to place funding or how a research study should be interpreted. But you will always find that special person or persons you connect with and start to embark on a state of readiness to change.

Einstein talked about the importance of imagination and Hillary Clinton discussed the importance of recognizing that it takes a village. They were right and I have seen it time and time again.