Update(s): I'm in Abolitionist Perspectives in Social Work!
Welcome briefly back, curers of addiction! I hope you feel alive; I know I do.
I have paused my regular Saturday posting schedule to work on the ICE response here in Maine. (As anticipated, abductions and harassment continue despite Susan Collins' assurance that "enhanced operations" are over.) New subscribers, thanks so much for joining us, and I'm sorry about the timing!
The good news is that I've just been published in the peer-reviewed journal Abolitionist Perspectives in Social Work. Access is free, and my article is called "Abolition and Addiction Treatment: From Moral Injury to Moral Rebellion." It's about the experiences that led me to leave agency work and start writing and teaching on addiction treatment through a more politicized lens. It argues for abolishing the treatment industry as we know it and includes practical suggestions– based on what I did– for liberatory clinical work within the system, insofar as it's possible. Download the full article here. Or, if the topic interests you but you're not in the mood for such length and density, see these earlier posts on moral injury in this field and how we might act on it.
Rosalie Genova
This multi-part project arose from a continuing education class on moral injury that I taught for substance use clinicians in 2023. (I see you, CCSME folks!) Leading up to this article publication were additional CE courses, this newsletter, and a post on the IDHA Blog. But hopefully, I am still just beginning something bigger.
If you didn't already know, I'm writing a book!
This topic is so complicated, I actually started with a book idea and later moved into shorter-form writing, rather than the other way around. It took book-length capacity to even figure out what I have to say about addiction treatment– and it's still an ongoing process. Writing shorter pieces has been clarifying, but now that I have two small publications it is time to get back to the long-term goal. I'm at the submitting and revising stage on (working title) Extract and Dispose: The Functions of Addiction Treatment. It's looking like about 90,000 words.
During the (so far) worst of Maine's ICE surge, I simply put writing on hold. Working on our response, my learning curve was very steep, and I felt I had no time, focus, or will for anything other than direct action or direct service. But this approach is already raising problems of its own. What's my plan? Get back to the project once everyone targeted by ICE is safe? "When all of this is over"? When exactly is that?
So weekly posting will remain on pause, but now 1) you have something nice and long about addiction treatment to tide you over, and 2) I'm striving to balance real-time local involvement with the deeper process of bringing this book to life. Otherwise it might just never happen.
During this next phase I still hope to post intermittently. It means a lot to me that people continue to read and share the content here. Thank you so much for your ongoing support. And when I have updates on the publishing process, you'll be the first to know...
