Dr. Sarah Wakeman

And then we really reframe treatment entirely to look like the way it looks for any other health condition.

And then we really reframe treatment entirely to look like the way it looks for any other health condition.

And that we stop punishing people who use substances where, you know, a lot of times people are still sent to jail for substance use, which, you know, is a confusing mixed message if we're saying this is a health problem on the one hand, but we're going to put you in prison or jail at the same time. Those two things don't necessarily align.

And that we stop punishing people who use substances where, you know, a lot of times people are still sent to jail for substance use, which, you know, is a confusing mixed message if we're saying this is a health problem on the one hand, but we're going to put you in prison or jail at the same time. Those two things don't necessarily align.

I mean, I don't think human beings were meant to live this way, and it's a relatively new thing, right? We often lived in a village or a community. We lived in these multigenerational households.

I mean, I don't think human beings were meant to live this way, and it's a relatively new thing, right? We often lived in a village or a community. We lived in these multigenerational households.

I mean, I have little kids, and I think having kids was such an eye-opener of that of like, well, that makes sense why people live with their parents and their grandparents and have these big families to create, you know, community and a sort of extended family around you. And we have lost that in a lot of ways.

I mean, I have little kids, and I think having kids was such an eye-opener of that of like, well, that makes sense why people live with their parents and their grandparents and have these big families to create, you know, community and a sort of extended family around you. And we have lost that in a lot of ways.

And I think the ways that we used to get that, like religion, maybe that still resonates for some people. For others, it may not. And so finding other ways of engagement, of meaning, of purpose, that can be through lots of different things. You know, I think people are finding creative ways of doing that. It can be through, like...

And I think the ways that we used to get that, like religion, maybe that still resonates for some people. For others, it may not. And so finding other ways of engagement, of meaning, of purpose, that can be through lots of different things. You know, I think people are finding creative ways of doing that. It can be through, like...

You know, finding a volunteer activity, finding some other type of social group. Some people do it through sports. You know, they find connection and engagement with people they don't really know over the shared love around an activity or a team. But really sort of seeing that as a priority the same way you'd prioritize other things in your life and your health.

You know, finding a volunteer activity, finding some other type of social group. Some people do it through sports. You know, they find connection and engagement with people they don't really know over the shared love around an activity or a team. But really sort of seeing that as a priority the same way you'd prioritize other things in your life and your health.

Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I think one of the problems is that too often therapy has been like forced on people. I think that I'm much more of the approach of like we need to make treatment available and welcoming and high quality so that people get value out of it. And therapy is a huge part of that. You know, it's about a lot of things. It's about connection.

Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I think one of the problems is that too often therapy has been like forced on people. I think that I'm much more of the approach of like we need to make treatment available and welcoming and high quality so that people get value out of it. And therapy is a huge part of that. You know, it's about a lot of things. It's about connection.

It's about figuring out those reasons why people are using in the first place, addressing and healing those traumas. It also matters that we have good, well-trained, empathetic therapists. So there's been a lot of interesting studies looking at actually how empathetic your therapist is is probably the strongest predictor of whether you make changes to your alcohol or drug use.

It's about figuring out those reasons why people are using in the first place, addressing and healing those traumas. It also matters that we have good, well-trained, empathetic therapists. So there's been a lot of interesting studies looking at actually how empathetic your therapist is is probably the strongest predictor of whether you make changes to your alcohol or drug use.

Which is so interesting because we often think like, You've probably heard someone say, like, I don't really like my therapist. And I think someone's reaction to that is like, oh, like, you're not that into therapy. But they've actually done a lot of studies showing that a therapist who is less empathetic, their client is more likely to use more substances at the end of that course of treatment.

Which is so interesting because we often think like, You've probably heard someone say, like, I don't really like my therapist. And I think someone's reaction to that is like, oh, like, you're not that into therapy. But they've actually done a lot of studies showing that a therapist who is less empathetic, their client is more likely to use more substances at the end of that course of treatment.

So actually having a really well-trained, compassionate, evidence-based workforce is hugely important, too.

So actually having a really well-trained, compassionate, evidence-based workforce is hugely important, too.