North Country Forum
Dr. Carney’s most recent posts are to be found here. He is in the process of compiling a complete archive of all articles he has written since his retirement from professional social work practice in 2010. All his blogs have as their focus issues pertaining to social justice; are generally placed in their historical context; and, ultimately, are subjected to in-depth analyses whose aim is to promote a full understanding of the issues being addressed.
Recovery and Liberation: One and the Same?
You can’t have one without the other. I’ll explain as we go along. As 2011 was winding down, SAMHSA issued what it termed its “… working definition of ‘recovery’ from mental disorders and substance abuse disorders …” Specifically, recovery is to be understood as “a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.” Nice, innocuous and inoffensive, something nobody could object to; which I suppose was the idea, in the interest of forging a speedy consensus among stakeholders. To judge from the SAMHSA blog, very few people did, with the possible...