Mary Beth O'Connor
@marybethoconnor
From Junkie to Judge memoir. Teenage meth addict and multiple trauma survivor, to secular recovery, to federal judge. I speak and write about a variety of substance use, harm reduction, and recovery topics. junkietojudge.com
I don't know how many people have read my From Junkie to Judge #memoir. Because people share the book with friends, buy a used book, or purchase the audiobook. I do know it has an Amazon 4.6 rating though! a.co/d/06JOGbpr
"The good news is that there are many effective ways to treat #addiction, and these treatments can work as well as treatments for other long-term health conditions like diabetes or asthma." #wedorecover #recoveryposse
In LifeRing Secular Recovery we talk about how small steps in a positive direction are a foundation of recovery. Make the same small step repeatedly, it's a new habit that doesn't require focus. So your brain can make new positive choices. And so on, and so on. Neuroplasticity! #addiction #sober
We need to do better: "People with addictions and other co-occurring mental health disorders face a multitude of individual, logistic, socioeconomic, cultural, organizational, systemic, and policy-related barriers to accessing and utilizing substance use treatment and mental health services."
Lot of good information on this American Society of Addiction Medicine website, including definitions and treatment options. #addictionrecovery #addiction #recoveryposse www.asam.org/education/ad...
Useful guide for medical professionals treating pregnant women with opioid use disorders, including tapering off v. ongoing medication. #harmreduction #opioids #addiction library.samhsa.gov/sites/defaul...
Over the years of my #addiction, many doctors saw my track marks, from shooting meth. A few asked me about it, I gave a vague answer, and they didn't pursue it. None offered me treatment. This still is too common today, usually from stigmatizing attitudes or lack of knowledge.
When I wrote my From Junkie to Judge #memoir, and revisited the #trauma source of my #addiction, I released some of my last bits of self-judgment. My choice to use drugs, even excessively, was understandable. Those drugs helped me handle my pain, in the beginning. a.co/d/0amDLRaf
Seven #alcohol drink per week only slightly increases health risks, but 14 notably does so. Which reinforces the general guidance that less is better, even if you don't have an alcohol use disorder. scitechdaily.com/two-drinks-a...
sometimes point out that society has a hierarchy around drug use. Better to use #alcohol than meth. Better to pop pills than shoot up. Which is one reason I talk about shooting meth for many years, but am now 32 years sober and a retired federal judge. #addiction #wedorecover
The loss of my beloved husband of 42 years is devastating. My reaction, though, is proof of the depth of my #addiction and #trauma recoveries. No inclination to pick up alcohol or other drugs. And my anxiety is within normal parameters, rather than the pre-healing extreme.
"By approaching patients without stigma or judgement, applying harm reduction principles, understanding readiness through the Stages of Change, and using motivational interviewing, responders can maximize the impact of even the briefest encounter." rutgerstraining.sph.rutgers.edu/Fiveminutes/...
It's odd to me that #addiction is a mental health disorder, in the DSM, and yet some insist it's a disease. Other mental health disorders, like anxiety and depression, aren't categorized as diseases. I think of it as a brain disorder and emphasize that recovery changes the brain too. #mentalhealth
Sometimes we focus on the opiate overdose rate even though #alcohol kills more people. Of course, many of the same prevention and treatment solutions apply to both. Such as readily accessible mental health treatment for kids and evidence-based addiction treatment.
I wasn't comfortable with the "I'm Mary Beth and I'm an addict" intro. I felt like it meant that this was the essence of who I am. When it wasn't, not even in early recovery. I preferred Women for Sobriety's "I'm Mary Beth and I'm a competent woman." #recoveryposse #women #addiction
A reminder that substance use disorder/addiction is a mental health disorder. And some Americans with Disabilities Act protections apply, such as the right to use medication for your SUD and to receive reasonable accommodations for your recovery.
My #memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction, is on sale on Amazon. 20% discount! #booklovers #sobriety a.co/d/08QRUr4r
In LifeRing #Secular Recovery, we view an #addiction relapse/slip as a learning opportunity. What exactly happened? Why did it happen? What's your plan for the next time this happens? #recoveryposse
When I got sober at 32, I had a Berkeley degree and good grades, but an embarrassing resume because of my meth addiction. My first post-rehab job was part-time, low level admin work. At 6 years sober I went to Berkeley Law. We start where we are! #recoveryposse #wedorecover #sobriety
Good summary of the problems with the current administration's approach to drug use and #addiction. #crime #policy addictionnews.com/national-dru...
Hazelden's accurate statement about the benefits of medications for #opioid #addiction. #harmreduction
#Addiction requires negative consequences. Which is why, per the DSM, tolerance and withdrawal do not count toward diagnosis when opioids are taken as prescribed. Because the meds should have a positive impact. That's why they've been prescribed. #harmreduction
There's been an explosion of liver disease in late 20s and 30s drinkers, especially among women. LifeRing #Secular Recovery has online meetings specifically for those with liver disease. #addiction #women