MOVIE: Pleasure Unwoven
October 12, 2026
In more than four decades working in addiction treatment — as a clinician, an educator, and someone who has sat across from countless families in crisis — I have rarely
Resources
This site is built on scientific research about addictions and codependency. This resource section has several categories to help you answer your questions, direct you to action programs after completing the Checklist and Rating Scale, and find support for yourself and your loved one. You would be wise to first go to the Media button below and view the videos, “Pleasure Unwoven,” and then “Memo to Self,” to get a wonderful overview of the biology of addiction and the meaning of recovery from alcohol and other drug abuse.
Media
Movie: Memo to Self
October 14, 2026
If Pleasure Unwoven taught families the science of addiction, Memo to Self shows them what surviving it actually looks like — and as its direct sequel, it completes a story
Quick Resources
Professional Assessment
October 14, 2026
Professional Assessment links. Those links are for you to look
Care Givers
Interventionists & Intervention Services
October 14, 2026
Practical guidance on what credentials to verify, questions to ask, and red flags to avoid before hiring anyone claiming to
Therapists & Counselors
October 14, 2026
This category is broader than the “Professional Assessment” list above (which focused on addiction-specific screening tools) — these are directories
Treatment Center Directory
October 12, 2026
Accreditation (Joint Commission/CARF) and licensure (state) are two different things — a center can be state-licensed but not accredited, or
Government Agencies Around the World
United States Government Agencies
October 19, 2026
Here is a comprehensive directory of every U.S. governmental organization with a connection to alcohol or drug abuse, addiction, treatment,
States in the United States with primary interest alcohol and drug abuse
October 19, 2026
Here is the complete alphabetical list of the primary Single State Agency (SSA) responsible for alcohol and drug abuse policy,
Africa — Drug & Alcohol Agency Directory
October 19, 2026
Complete alphabetical directory by country of primary government agencies responsible for alcohol and other drug abuse policy, prevention, and treatment
Professional Journals
Family Systems Theory: A Unifying Framework for Codependence
October 19, 2026
Layne A. Prest and Howard Protinsky. According to an increasing number of experts on addictions, untold millions of people in
What Makes Some People More Resilient Than Others
October 19, 2026
The very earliest days of our lives, and our closest relationships, can offer clues about how we cope with adversity.
How to Deal with Troubling Thoughts
October 19, 2026
Intrusive thoughts are a common and disturbing symptom of anxiety. Cognitive behavioral techniques can help. By Nick Wignall | Pssyche
Papers by Dr. Watts
Confrontation & Negotiation
What You Can Say – Top Ten Negotiator Statements for Defensive Substance Users
October 18, 2026
These statements are drawn directly from the principles of principled negotiation, motivational interviewing, and reflective listening. Each is designed to
“Getting to Yes”: The Principles of Principled Negotiation
October 18, 2026
“Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In,” written by Roger Fisher and William Ury of the Harvard Negotiation Project
Coping with Defensiveness Around Alcohol and Drug Use
October 18, 2026
Defensiveness is not obstruction — it is protection. Understanding that distinction is the foundation of every effective strategy for engaging
Family Systems
Unhealthy Family System
October 18, 2026
Unhealthy family systems are those that are not supportive or nurturing. They can be characterized by a lack of communication,
When Kids Have to Act Like Parents, It Affects Them for Life
October 18, 2026
Some people who have to be responsible for their siblings or parents as children grow up to be compulsive caretakers.
Co-Dependency – Shared “addiction” to The Drug
October 18, 2026
Codependency is a profound behavioral condition, frequently misunderstood as simply being “clingy” or overly devoted. In reality, it is a
Kids & Drugs
Navigating the Minefield – When Teens View Drugs as the Ultimate Fix
October 18, 2026
Let’s be honest: being a teenager is hard. It is a season of life characterized by awkward growth spurts, crushing
The Biological Trap of Adolescent Addiction
October 18, 2026
Understanding why teenagers are uniquely susceptible to addiction requires looking beneath the surface of behavior and examining the architecture of
The Gender Divide…How Adolescent Girls and Boys Differ in Substance Abuse
October 18, 2026
While the destination of addiction is the same for everyone—loss of control and destruction of potential—the pathways that adolescent girls
Lying & Deception
Evaluating Truthfulness and Detecting Deception
October 18, 2026
By David Matsumoto, Ph.D.; Hyi Sung Hwang, Ph.D.; Lisa Skinner, J.D.; and Mark Frank, Ph.D.
Top 10 Tips to Detect a Lie
October 12, 2026
Every fraudster uses lies to hide the truth. Most are comfortable with lying because they have rationalized their behavior. Over
De-escalation Techniques
How do I keep a conversation from turning into a fight?
October 12, 2026
When someone is actively using substances, their brain processes confrontation differently than it otherwise would. Research on how addiction affects