Recovery: Solving Routine Problems

Posted on July 16, 2008 | Filed Under Research

I enjoy thinking “outside the box” using conceptual models in new ways. It may be my favorite approach to learning. Therefore, I was curious when I came across the following post available on the Official Google Blog - Our Googley advice to students: Major in learning. In short, the entry indicates that Google values individuals that possess non-routine problem-solving skills. They expect that job applicants will be able to solve routine problems utilizing the following skill set:

… analytical reasoning. Google is a data-driven, analytic company. When an issue arises or a decision needs to be made, we start with data. That means we can talk about what we know, instead of what we think we know.

… communication skills. Marshalling and understanding the available evidence isn’t useful unless you can effectively communicate your conclusions.

… a willingness to experiment. Non-routine problems call for non-routine solutions and there is no formula for success. A well-designed experiment calls for a range of treatments, explicit control groups, and careful post-treatment analysis. Sometimes an experiment kills off a pet theory, so you need a willingness to accept the evidence even if you don’t like it.

… team players. Virtually every project at Google is run by a small team. People need to work well together and perform up to the team’s expectations.

… passion and leadership. This could be professional or in other life experiences: learning languages or saving forests, for example. The main thing, to paraphrase Mr. Drucker, is to be motivated by a sense of importance about what you do.

Reading the post, I reflected on a literature review that I wrote in 2001. In my literature review I suggested that “recovery” is primarily a problem-solving endeavor. Therefore, attitudes and actions that promote problem-solving as well as those that restrain problem-solving are vital areas of focus in the context of recovery. Is the skill set discussed on the Google blog applicable to recovery? I believe the answer is “yes.” I plan to discuss the application at a later date. Until that time, I welcome comments from my reading public and will incorporate responses into my next post on this subject. Also, click this link to a discussion of the Recovery Model. In particular, see the section on the Elements of recovery.


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A DM Moment

Posted on July 10, 2008 | Filed Under Research

While striving to keep current with other progressive thinkers cogitating in cyberspace, I came across a post written by Howard Wetsman, MD on AddictionDoctor.org. It appears that he shares my excitement about the application of a disease management model to substance use problems. He writes:

 

But think about the future if someone built one [a disease management program for addictive disorders]. Patients would come in for a specific program of stabilization and intensive treatment to prepare them for lifelong chronic disease management and then transferred to continuing care with appropriate monitoring and continuing education and support. The barriers to getting to care should problems arise will decrease and “relapses” will be handled much earlier with few complications lowering total costs to insurers and society. Like most other better mouse traps, the third party payers (who are about to be forced to pay for addiction treatment) will beat a path to this door.

 

Unfortunately, I do not believe that third party payers are ready to “beat a path” to a disease management programs. I suspect that the field will have to demonstrate the effectiveness of such programs to third party payers. While theoretically sound, it lacks support in the empirical literature. Personally, I am investing my time and energy regardless of our state of knowledge. The idea makes too much sense to wait for support from empirical literature.


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Info Bytes for June 29, 2008

Posted on June 29, 2008 | Filed Under Research

There is a wealth of information on the internet. At times, it can be overwhelming. Blogs, newsletters, and feeds are a necessity in order to stay current on important subjects. However, the drive to learn will vary depending on a range of factors. Therefore, there are varying drives to explore new information.

An adolescent headed toward harmful substance use can easily use the internet to learn about substance misuse. Therefore, it is important that parents have the same information that is available to their children. An excellent resource for parents is a newsletter put out by UNCG’s Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships

Below is a selection of info bytes from their most recent newsletter:

Did you know?

1 in 10 teens has taken enough cough medicine to get high - as much as 25-50 times the normal dose.

There National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has created an interactive website for children aged 11-13.

Overall, parents are most aware of their child’s use of alcohol and cigarettes and least aware of marijuana use.


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