This week we’ve got a very different perspective on Addiction & Recovery in an interview with Mark Scheeren. Mark is the co-author of The Freedom Model of Addiction, the first non  12 Step methodology to treat addiction and alcoholism. A word of caution; this approach may sound like heresy to 12 Step enthusiasts and advocates and to some extent it very well may be. Indeed I count myself as a strong advocate for the benefits of 12-Step Recovery. Our philosophy on this program is to bring you a wide variety of views, approaches, and experiences on and around Addiction and Recovery. To invoke a 12 Step slogan, take what you want and leave the rest. That said, I encourage you to keep a very instructive quote from the book Alcoholics Anonymous close to your heart as you listen to this interview “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation”. Mark’s primary message is one of personal empowerment, free will, the power of positive motivation, and ultimately making the case that there’s more than one way to treat alcoholism and addiction. Listen Up.

The Freedom Model: https://www.thefreedommodel.org/

Book: The Freedom Model for Addictions: Escape the Treatment and Recovery Trap

Chinese Proverb Featured in the Interview:

Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions. Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits. Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character. Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.