9/5/24 Grand Rounds

John F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP
Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School;
Director, MGH Recovery Research Institute;
Director, National Center on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery;
President, American Board of Addiction Psychology;
Board Certified Addiction Psychologist

During the past 50 years a great deal has been learned about the etiology, epidemiology, typology, and phenomenology of addiction that has uncovered its complex causes, natural history, and highly variable presentation and clinical course. These novel findings have given rise to a number of clinical paradigm shifts and increased awareness of the many pathways through and out of addiction and into remission and long-term recovery. These findings have helped reduce stigmatization of addiction but challenges still remain. This talk will review briefly the new knowledge gained during the past 50 years and describe how this has led to shifts in cultural understanding of addiction as well as a renewed focus on how to help individuals suffering from alcohol and other drug use disorders achieve stable remission and long term recovery.

Learning Objectives:

1. Name two dimensions that underlie stigma related to addiction.

2. Name 3 strategies that are helpful to address addiction stigma.

3. Describe the evidence base for recovery support services in addressing addiction.