# data[].attributes.headline
How climate change effects mental health

# data[].attributes.subject
How climate change effects mental health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's not even spring and the country has been experiencing record high temperatures. The heat may feel welcome during the winter doldrums, but it also comes with a cost.

Most of the warming trend is human-induced as opposed to natural. We're all playing our part in the trends and likewise are subject to the consequences.

Check out this site to understand facts about climate change. Everything is covered from the sea level rise to shrinking ice sheets to glacial retreat to ocean acidification. All of these things are contributing to the unprecedented pace at which temperatures have been rising since the 1950s.

These rising temperatures have produced humanitarian crises and associated mental health problems - including substance use disorders.

The Impact of Climate Change

Weather disasters lead to panic and displacement of individuals from their homes and communities. The disaster might come in the form of flooding, earthquakes, high winds, and wildfires.

Associated trauma can result in anxiety disorders, PTSD and substance abuse. Extreme ages (very young or elderly) are particularly vulnerable. Also at higher risk for developing problems are those individuals who have a pre-existing psychiatric problem and those lacking in monetary and supportive resources. But regardless of socioeconomic status, anyone can face loss of a job, home, or community.

First responders also are at risk for heightened anxiety and coping with substances.

The Emotional Toll

Of course not everyone affected by a natural disaster will have a pathological response. Emotional response is variable and tends to fluctuate over time. For example, there can be initial relief after an event and sometimes symptoms of a disorder don't appear until a person is triggered by an 'anniversary' event.

For this reason, early intervention by mental health professionals is vital to a person's recovery and success after an event. Professionals tend to focus on normalizing the reactions of victims and aim to enhance supports and create calm environments that foster good sleep and comfort. Naming the risks of using alcohol and other substances during a disaster is also an important part of reducing the risk for individuals.

There are a number of excellent resources to help cope with mental health matters after a disaster:

Climate change is part of our reality and there are things that we can do about it.
Images Courtesy of iStock

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Global Warming and Substance Use Problems - Drug Rehab Options

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's not even spring and the country has been experiencing record high temperatures. The heat may feel welcome during the winter doldrums, but it also comes with a cost. Most of the warming trend is human-induced as opposed to natural. We're all playing our part in the trends and likewise are subject to the consequences.

# data[].attributes.body
Families often have a certain influence on addiction. May that be from mental health issues being passed down, unhealthy coping mechanisms being passed down or the environment a person was raised in could also cause an addiction. According to the Power of Context, behavior is influenced by environment (The Tipping Point).

Looking at history we can see that many people started drinking for religious reasons (Openstax 2020) As the years progressed the message to drink outside of the faith spread and had a tipping point. There was a stickiness factor because of the community involvement and connection to the law of the 150. Which says people do better in certain numbers if there is a connection to a thing that they can bond over.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Psychoactive drugs have been used since the earliest human civilizations. Problematic use of substances was observed as early as the 17th century. 1

The evolution of addiction treatment, from the mid-18th century to the present, is outlined below. Several pioneers of treatment during these times contributed to a rich body of scientific knowledge that continues to influence our understanding of addiction today.

1750-Early 1800s

Alcoholic mutual aid societies, sobriety circles provide early recovery (1750 to early 1800s). These groups were originally comprised of various Native American tribes, and some evolved into abstinence-based Native American revival movements.2 Native Americans used native healing practices to treat alcoholism.³

Benjamin Rush argues that alcoholism is a disease that should be treated (1784). Rush was a physician committed to educating the public about the hazards of alcohol. Excessive use of alcohol in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was a major public health problem.⁴ His written works helped launch the beginning of the temperance movement.²

1800s

Lodging Homes and Homes for the Fallen (inebriate homes) open (1850s). These homes provided short, voluntary stays that included non-medical detoxification, isolation from drinking culture, moral reframing, and immersion in newly formed sobriety fellowships.⁵ The first inebriate homes opened in Boston in the 1850s and were modeled after state-operated insane asylums.2,5

New York State Inebriate Asylum opens (1864). This facility opened in 1864 under the direction of Dr. Joseph Edward Turner. It was the first medically monitored addiction treatment center in the U.S. and is considered the first alcohol rehab center.⁶

Keeley alcoholism cures spread (1870s). Founded by Dr. Leslie Keeley, who opened more than 120 Keeley Institutes in North America and Europe, these consisted of addiction cure institutes and proprietary home cures, such as bottled "Double Chloride of Gold Cures for drunkenness."⁵

Freud recommends cocaine to treat alcoholism and morphine addiction (1880s). Sigmund Freud began using cocaine himself, calling it the "magical drug."⁷ Freud and other American physicians used cocaine to treat alcoholism and morphine addiction. However, in the last of Freud's writings, he backed off his former defense of using cocaine to treat morphine addiction.2,7

Inebriate homes and asylums close, alcoholics are sent to drunk tanks, wards, and foul wards of hospitals (1890s). Poorly evaluated clinical therapies, ethical abuse, economic depressions, stigma, de-medicalization, and criminalization of alcohol/drug problems led to the shuttering of inebriate homes and the first generation of addiction treatment.⁵ After inebriate homes and asylums closed, alcoholics are sent to city drunk tanks, public hospitals, and insane asylums.²

1900-1950

Charles B. Towns Hospital opens (1901). Charles Towns, in collaboration with Dr. Alexander Lambert (Theodore Roosevelt's personal physician), opened this New York City substance abuse hospital in 1901, which treated affluent alcoholics with its famous belladonna elixir. Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, was a patient at Charles B. Towns Hospital 4 times. The cost of treatment was $350 a day, equivalent to $5,610 today.⁸

Emmanuel Clinic in Boston begins lay therapy for treatment of alcoholism (1906). The Emmanuel movement was a church-based form of psychotherapy to heal addictions with a combination of spirituality and psychological interventions.9 The Emmanuel movement's groundwork was instrumental to the establishment of Alcoholics Anonymous.¹⁰

Passage of state laws that call for the sterilization of the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and alcoholics and addicts (1910s). Legislation granted the medical supervisors of asylums and prisons the authority to "asexualize" a patient or inmate if such action would improve his or her physical, mental, or moral condition. Among those affected were alcoholics and addicts, who were considered degenerate and feeble-minded.¹¹

Morphine maintenance clinics created (1919-1924). Communities established morphine maintenance clinics to treat people with morphine addiction. Most eventually close for legal reasons.²

Narcotics farms open (1935). The first federal narcotics farm opened in Lexington, Kentucky in 1935.² Lexington was a center for drug treatment and federal research, and provided free treatment to addicts and alcoholics, including the "Lexington Cure." The Narco farm was a prison where research on human subjects could be conducted.¹²

Alcoholics Anonymous formed (1935). The 4 founding members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Bill Wilson, Ebby Thatcher, Rowland Hazard, and Dr. Bob Smith, were highly influenced by the pioneers of the Emmanuel Movement.10 Wilson and Dr. Bob were both alcoholics in the 1930s, unable to achieve sustained abstinence despite their Christian faith and membership in the Oxford Group, a Christian organization whose principles heavily influenced the creation of the 12 steps.13 The meeting between Bill W. and Dr. Bob in 1935 marked the formation of AA, and the famous blue book, Alcoholics Anonymous, was published in 1939.2 AA separated from the Oxford Group in the 1930s.¹³

Minnesota Model created (1948-1950). The Minnesota Model was a self-help model intertwined with the AA philosophy. Its primary treatment goals were abstinence and behavioral change.¹⁴

Disulfiram and other drugs are used to treat alcoholism (1948-1950). Disulfiram, otherwise known as Antabuse, was introduced in the U.S. as a supplemental treatment for alcoholism. Antabuse created feelings of nausea and unpleasant reactions to alcohol. Other drugs used to treat alcoholism during this time included barbiturates, amphetamines, and LSD.²

1950-2000

AA membership surpasses 90,000 (early 1950s). The reach of AA membership grew exponentially, and in 1951, AA won the Lasxfker Award from the American Public Health Association (considered to be America's equivalent to the Nobel prize).¹⁵ AA's success was due to several factors, including an increase in alcoholism-related films and a wider acceptance of those suffering from the illness.²

American Medical Association defines alcoholism (1952). In 1952, the American Medical Association (AMA) first defined alcoholism.² Eventually, the committee agreed to define alcoholism as a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing the condition's prognosis.¹⁶

Veterans Administration establishes alcoholism treatment units (1957). The Veteran's Health Administration began developing alcoholism treatment units within its national network of VA hospitals.²

Halfway House Association founded (1958). The halfway house movement peaked in 1958 with the founding of the Association of Halfway House Alcoholism Programs of North America.2 Halfway houses provided safe, recovery-focused housing for individuals who were suffering from substance abuse problems.

E.M. Jellinek promotes alcoholism as a disease (1960). E.M. Jellinek, a 1960s alcoholism researcher, published The Disease Concept of Alcoholism.²

Insurance industry begins to reimburse treatment of alcoholism (1964-1975). When the medical community emphasized alcoholism as a chronic disease, policymakers responded, leading to a rise in inpatient rehabs and an upswing in medication for alcoholism/addiction.2,17 In turn, the insurance industry began reimbursing alcoholism treatment in line with other illnesses.²

Methadone introduced (1964). Vincent Dole, an endocrinologist, and Dr. Marie Nyswander, a psychiatrist, introduced methadone to treat narcotic addiction. The FDA approved it to treat heroin addiction in 1972.2 Methadone is a slow-acting opioid agonist that prevents harsh opioid withdrawal symptoms.¹⁸

Lincoln Recovery Center uses acupuncture to treat addiction (1970). Lincoln Recovery was initially an outpatient treatment center in the 1970s that used methadone. In 1973-74, a community-based demand for natural, non-pharmaceutical treatments for heroin and opioid addiction spurred the use of acupuncture in the clinic. The alternative treatment proved to be highly successful, and many of the founding staff went on to study acupuncture.¹⁹

The Controlled Substances Act passes (1970). The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) placed all regulated substances into 5 schedules, or classifications, based on the substance's medical use, potential for abuse, and dependence liability.²⁰

FDA approves Narcan (1971). Narcan could counter opioid overdose effects, usually within 2 minutes. It was first made available as an injectable solution, but is now available as a nasal spray.²¹,29

Betty Ford Clinic founded (1982). Former First Lady Betty Ford sought treatment for alcohol and prescription pill addiction at age 60. In 1982, Ford co-founded the first Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, CA.²²

Cocaine Anonymous founded (1982). Cocaine Anonymous (CA) adopted the 12-step philosophy embraced by Alcoholics Anonymous.²

Secular Organizations for Sobriety and Rational Recovery founded (1985-1986). Former serious problem drinker James Christopher founded Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) in the mid-80s. Around the same time, recovered alcoholic Jack Trimpey founded Rational Recovery. These programs emphasize rational decision-making, not spirituality.²

American Medical Association calls all drug addictions diseases (1987). The AMA passed legislation identifying alcoholism as a complex disease that merited the serious concern of all members of the health professions.²

SMART Recovery founded (1994). SMART Recovery is a non-12-step program focused on self-empowerment. The program teaches skills for self-directed change and helps users cope with urges and manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can drive addiction.²³

Naltrexone approved for alcoholism (1994). In late 1994, naltrexone became the second drug the FDA approved for alcoholism. Naltrexone is non-addictive and does not react with alcohol. It blocks opioid receptors in the brain, preventing the pleasurable effects.²⁴

Drug Addiction Treatment Act passed (1999). This bill was introduced in 1999 to amend the Controlled Substances Act with stricter registration requirements for practitioners who dispense narcotic drugs in Schedules III, IV, or V for maintenance and detoxification treatment.²⁵

2000-Present

FDA approves buprenorphine for clinical use (2002). In 2002, the FDA approved buprenorphine, a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction. Unlike methadone, which is dispensed within a structured clinic, specially qualified physicians can prescribe buprenorphine.²⁶

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 passed. This act required insurance companies and group health plans to provide similar benefits for mental health and/or substance use treatment and services as other types of medical care.²⁷

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expands coverage for addiction treatment (2010). The ACA expanded MHPAEA's criteria by making sure insurance plans offered through state health insurance marketplaces included behavioral health services, including substance abuse treatment.²⁷

American Medical Association petitions to drop pain as a vital sign (2016). In response to the opioid crisis and national addiction epidemic, the AMA met in 2016 to discuss dropping vital sign number 5 (pain) as a professional standard of medical care, a statute first implemented in the early 1990s.²⁸

1. Crocq, M.A. (2007). Historical and cultural aspects of a man's relationship with addictive drugs. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 9(4), 355-361.

2. White, W. (1998). Significant Events in the History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America.

3. White, W. (2000). The history of recovered people as wounded healers: I. From native America to the rise of the modern alcoholism movement. Alcoholism Treatment

4. Katcher, B. (1993). Benjamin Rush's educational campaign against hard drinking. American Journal of Public Health, 83(2), 273-281.

5. White, W. L. (2002). Addiction treatment in the United States: Early pioneers and institutions. Addiction, 97(9), 1087-1092.

6. Crowley, J., White, W. (2004). Drunkard's Refuge.

7. Grinspoon, L., Bakalar, J. (1981). Coca and Cocaine as Medicines: An Historical Review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 3(2-3), 149-159.

8. Markel, H. (2010). An Alcoholic's Savior: God, Belladonna or Both? The New York Times.

9. McCarthy, K. (1984) Psychotherapy and Religion: The Emmanuel Movement. Journal of Religion and Health, 23(2), 92-105.

10. Dubiel, R. (2004). The Road to Fellowship: The Role of the Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club in the Development of Alcoholics Anonymous. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, Inc.

11. Stern, A. (2005). Sterilized: In the Name of Public Health. American Journal of Public Health, 95(7), 1128-1138.

12. Kentucky Educational Television. (2017). Lexington's Narcotic Farm: A Pioneering Institution in Drug Treatment.

13. Dossett, W. (2013). Addiction, Spirituality, and 12-Step Programs. International Social Work 56, 369-383.

14. McElrath, D. (1997). The Minnesota Model. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 29(2), 141-144.

15. Kelly, J. (2016). Is Alcoholics Anonymous Religious, Spiritual, Neither? Findings from 25 Years of Mechanisms of Behavioral Change Research. Addiction, 112(6), 929-936.

16. Morse, R. (1992). The Definition of Alcoholism. Journal of the American Medical Association, 268(8), 1012-1014.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The History of Addiction Treatment: A Timeline

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Psychoactive drugs have been used since the earliest human civilizations. Problematic use of substances was observed as early as the 17th century. 1 The evolution of addiction treatment, from the mid-18th century to the present, is outlined below. Several pioneers of treatment during these times contributed to a rich body of scientific knowledge that continues to influence our understanding of addiction today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Addiction is a disease that can affect anyone. Scientists believe genetics predispose many to addictive behavior. However, experts also understand how certain environmental factors influence addiction. What are environmental factors? They’re the features in your surroundings influencing the chances of developing an addiction.

What Are Environmental Factors?

Community, family, social groups and education also influence the desire to abuse drugs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that addiction begins during childhood. Your home environment puts you at risk for drug abuse before understanding what illicit substances are.

The environmental risk factors for drug addiction include:

Aggressive behavior as a child

Weak social skills

Family members engaging in drug use or criminal activity

Favorable attitudes toward firearms

Community Factors

Overall, research shows that neighborhood pride reduces the risk of drug abuse. This is because an organized community offers more opportunities for young people to participate in constructive activities.

Unfortunately, children without access to after school activities may be more likely to engage in undesirable behaviors. Additionally, they might have trouble developing a sense of belonging and struggle with understanding their place in society.

However, community involvement can be detrimental if the population has favorable attitudes toward drug use. This is why recovery communities are especially helpful in supporting sobriety. They help people find encouragement and connection when their own communities isolate them. This support is crucial to lasting recovery.

Peer Factors

Furthermore, people’s social environments affect addiction risk as well. Peers have a huge influence over personal attitudes and behaviors. Children spend many weekly hours with their friend groups. It’s hard to make new friends if the ones you have aren’t making good decisions.

As you grow up, you tend to spend less time socializing. Still, the idea of making new social connections is a daunting task. It may immerse you in a subculture that poorly influences you. It’s important to keep an eye out for this.

Education and Career Factors

Additionally, academic failure in late elementary school is a risk factor for developing drug addiction. Children who don’t make school a commitment, might not show up for class. Therefore, they might turn to drugs or alcohol to occupy their time.

In adulthood, this lack of commitment transcends into the workplace. If poor performance stresses you out, you might be more likely to abuse drugs. Resistance to career responsibilities also increases addiction risk.

Taking a Break with Steps to Recovery

If you’re struggling with addiction, you may benefit from distancing yourself from your usual surroundings. Immersing yourself in supportive, positive drug addiction rehab gives you the necessary transitional tools for a healthy lifestyle.

Learning to live well within your community, family, and peer group is important to lasting recovery. At Steps to Recovery in Levittown, PA our intensive outpatient program and outpatient program allow you to get back on your feet. Call us at 866-488-8684 for more answers to, “What are environmental factors?”

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What are Environmental Factors in Addiction? | Steps to Recovery

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many people wonder what are environmental factors and how do they affect addiction severity? Click or call 866-488-8349 to find the answer.

# data[].attributes.body
People in the sober community may choose to attend AA, Alano Clubs, live in sober housing or hang out in sober environments. Many of them are re-entering their community at large.  Some say, “we are a group of individuals who value principles before personalities.”

You can find an AA meeting online anytime of day available at www.aa-intergroup.org. You can also find readings of the big book in over 180 different countries and 100 different languages. There is a world services meeting held each year which started in 1969. This is a place where the message of recovery is shared.

Family cultures are changing. Traditional families are not what they once were with the mother and father as head of household. In some cultures the family structure has hardships due to low income, drug addiction and mental health issues. People struggling with addiction often come from families where there is violence and abuse although this is not always the case. Adverse Child Experiences (ACEs) can be viewed at www.cdc.gov

AA has been called a cult. Which in early days a cult was a small religious group that hadn’t grown to a large size yet. AA is a religious practice in many alcoholics lives and the practices are not forced on people like in many modern day cults.

# data[].attributes.body
This is my friend Izzy’s nonprofit that helps support drug and alcohol treatment centers around Oregon by using exercise as a way to release endorphins and create a natural high.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We promote recovery through fitness, community, and compassion.

Go The Distance (GTD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that, through a partnership with a local rehabilitation center, advocates for sobriety through fitness and unity.

85% of people struggling from addiction start using again within one year of entering a rehabilitation program.

Studies show that incorporating physical activity into a rehabilitation program has a multitude of benefits including:

decreased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease

increased confidencE

Increased strength

Better sleep

Community

structure

take action

With your help, we can give people the tools to stay sober.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Go The Distance-Recovery Through Physical Fitness

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Go The Distance is a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting recovery from substance abuse through physical activity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. CDC works to understand ACEs and prevent them.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Prevention Strategy Plan [3 MB, 20 Pages]
This resource outlines CDC's specific goals and objectives for ACEs prevention and response. The goals and objectives aim to prevent ACEs before they happen, identify those who have experienced ACEs, and respond using trauma-informed approaches in order to create the conditions for strong, thriving families and communities where all children and youth are free from harm and all people can achieve lifelong health and wellbeing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. CDC works to understand ACEs and prevent them. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Prevention Strategy Plan [3 MB, 20 Pages] This resource outlines CDC's specific goals and objectives for ACEs prevention and response.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Here’s some history on Oxford House’s of Oregon and how you can get information on current homes in the area. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
History and Accomplishments

1975 through 1988

Oxford House, the early years.

The first Oxford House was established in 1975 in Silver Spring, Maryland.  From the beginning the group rejected ownership of any property and continues to rent – not purchase – single-family houses in good neighborhoods to establish new Oxford Houses. In the years between 1975 and 1988, eighteen Houses were established by and for recovering individuals.  The principles of replication and guidelines for running a group home for recovering alcoholics and substance abusers embodied in the Oxford House Manual had become institutionalized in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area and in 1987 a house for ten men was rented in Bethlehem, PA.

1988: The Federal Anti-Drug Abuse Act

In 1988, Congress enacted P.L. 100-690, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. This Act included a provision that required all states to establish a revolving loan fund to provide start-up funds for groups wishing to open sober living environments based on the Oxford House model.  The mandate was changed to a permissive provision in 1990 and is now codified as 42 USC 300x-25.  To determine if a particular state has a current recovery home revolving loan fund, click the Single State Director List and contact the agency. Such loans of $4,000 pay the first month's rent and security deposit and thereby accelerate the rate at which individual recovering people can find affordable housing.  Repayment is made monthly for 24 months so that others can benefit from the same kind of loan.

1989: Implementation of Effective Outreach

The availability of start-up loans for groups of six or more recovering individuals to rent an ordinary single-family house to start an Oxford House was a necessary but not sufficient incentive for expanding the small network of Oxford Houses.  It immediately became clear that it is necessary to teach residents in new self-run, self-supported Oxford Houses the system of operations that had made the early Oxford Houses successful.  Therefore, Oxford House World Services was established in 1989 to train experienced Oxford House residents to be teachers of the system of operations spelled out in the Oxford House Manual©.  Many states provided grants to cover the expenses of World Services to train and supervise “outreach workers” to carry their expertise to newly recovering individuals to start and maintain self-run, self-supported recovery homes. The combination of state grants, individual contributions and foundation grants permitted the establishment of an effective World Services Office within a short period of time.  From the outset, the World Services Office developed expertise in four specific areas:
•    Training and supervision of outreach workers
•    Management of revolving loan fund
•    Legal protection of civil rights under the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act
•    Development of an infra-structure to enable all Oxford Houses to work together to assure applied research, orderly expansion and quality control On November 12, 1989 the Washington Post Magazine published an article by their staff writer Peter Carlson entitled The Oxford House Experiment. The Post article captures the early to expand the number of Oxford Houses as encouraged by the recovery home section of the 1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Act.

1990 through 1996 — Validation of Expansion

A number of states including Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii entered into grant agreements with Oxford House World Service to introduce Oxford Houses to their respective states.

By 1991, when the CBS program “60 Minutes” did a favorable ten-minute segment about Oxford House, there were 256 Oxford Houses throughout the country.  The immediate effect of this program was to increase interest and demand for more Oxford Houses.

In the seven years between 1989 and 1996 the accomplishments of Oxford House World Services included:

Website: www.oxfordhouse.org established

An increase in houses from 18 to over 600

An increase in states served from 3 to 41

An increase in total recovery beds from 145 to over 4,954

Women's Houses increased from 3 to 110

Women's Houses that accept women with children increased from 1 to 18

Communities served increased from 3 to 253

Average rate of relapse maintained at less than 20% of all residents.

Moreover, Oxford House World Services supervised legal actions throughout the country to resolve civil rights with respect to zoning restrictions and the NIMBY problem.  In 1995, the United States Supreme Court considered the rights of recovering individuals to rent houses in areas zoned for single-family residence.  In its decision in City of Edmonds, WA v. Oxford House, Inc. 514 US 725 (May 15, 1995), the U.S. Supreme Court found that recovering alcoholics and drug addicts are protected under the Federal Fair Housing Act as handicapped individuals and local governments must make reasonable accommodations in their local zoning law restrictions.  This case laid the foundation for a number of other cases where courts have prohibited discrimination against recovering individuals living together for the purpose of becoming comfortable enough in sobriety to avoid relapse.

Key cases include:

•    Wai and Oxford House, Inc. v. Allstate Insurance Company, et. al. 75 F. Supp. 2d 1, (DDC, 1999) – prohibiting homeowner insurance companies from charging landlords more than if they were renting to a family;

•    Tsombanidis, and Oxford House, Inc. v. City of West Haven, Connecticut 180 F. Supp. 262 (CT. 2001) – prohibiting localities from applying fire safety requirements not applicable to biological families in similar rentals.

1996 to 2015 — Oxford house Comes of Age

In 1997, the men and women of Oxford House restructured Oxford House, Inc. – the national 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella organization by creating an independent Board of Directors and World Council elected from residents and alumni around the country.   This enabled the national board to recruit experienced outside Directors to compliment the residents and alumni making up the democratic self-run organization.   The Chairperson of the elected World Council is an ex-officio member of the board to assure close coordination between the grassroots democratic policy making of Oxford House, as a whole, and the organized expansion of the Oxford House movement.

During the period between 1997 and 2007, Oxford House continued to grow and thousands of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts demonstrated that recovery without relapse could become the norm rather than the exception.  In some states, the start-up revolving loan fund has turned over many times enabling the development of strong statewide networks of Oxford Houses.  For example, in Washington State the original $100,000 start-up loan fund has loaned out more than $700,000 as houses repaid their loans. The money is used over and over again with the result that the state has 179 houses with 1,464 recovery beds.

To sustain growth and to assure that all houses stay on track, Oxford House World Services organize houses into mutually supportive local chapters and state associations – all democratically self-run and self-supported.  Moreover, in 1999, Oxford House held its first annual World Convention where residents and alumni meet every year to learn more about addiction and the ways and means to expand the number of Oxford Houses.

Highlights during the period include:

American Psychological Association awards Oxford House, Inc. the 2003 Harry V. McNeill Award for Effective Community Service

DePaul University [NIDA/NIAAA funded] studies show remarkable rates of recovery without relapse–over 80%. Associated Press Story August 18, 2005

President’s 2006 Drug Strategy Message features Oxford House as a model program for recovery without relapse.

1999 Washington, D.C. First Annual Convention.  320 residents and alumni attend.  Theme: If Not Us Who?

2000 Kansas City, MO Second Annual Convention.  340 residents and alumni attend.  Theme: Recovery Without Relapse.

2001 Washington, DC Third Annual Convention. 380 residents and alumni attend.  Theme: If Not Now, When?

2002 Seattle, WA Fourth Annual Convention, 420 residents and alumni attend. Theme: Changing the Culture of Recovery.

2003 Washington, DC  Fifth Annual Convention.  415 residents and alumni attend.  Theme: Recovery, Responsibility, and Replication.

2004 San Antonio, TX Sixth Annual Convention.  390 residents and alumni attend.  Theme: Back to Basics.

2005 Alexandria, VA Seventh Annual Convention. 400 residents and alumni attend.  Theme: Family, Fellowship, and Freedom.

2006 Wichita, KS Eighth Annual Convention; Program includes 26 stories of success.  460 residents and alumni attend.  Theme: Oxford House Comes of Age.

2007 Washington, DC  Ninth Annual Convention; Program includes 18 stories of success.  530 residents and alumni attend.  Theme: Oxford House – What If?

2008 New Orleans, LA Tenth Annual Convention; Program includes 18 stories of success. 580 residents and alumni attended. Theme: Oxford House – Time for Recovery.

2009 Washington, DC Eleventh Annual Convention. 686 residents and alumni attended. Theme: Oxford House – Together We Can.

2010 Chicago, IL Twelfth Annual Convention. 732 residents and alumni attend. Theme: Oxford House - Celebrating 35 Years.

2011 Washington, DC Thirteenth Annual Convention. 740 residents and alumni attend. Theme: Saving Money, Saving Lives

2012 Oklahoma City, OK Fourteenth Annual Convention 750 residents and alumni attend. Theme: Oxford House – Good Neighbors Good Citizens.

2013 Washington, DC Fifteenth Annual Convention 767 residents and alumni attend. Theme: Oxford House – Meeting The Need.

2014 Portland, OR Sixteenth Annual Convention 967 residents and alumni attend. Theme: Oxford House – Building Community.

2015 Washington, DC Seventeenth Annual Convention 850 residents and alumni attend. Theme: Oxford House  – Celebrating 40 Years.

2016 Dallas, TX Eighteenth Annual Convention Theme: The Blueprint for Success – Achieving, Maintaining and Measuring Long-term Recovery.

2019 Washington, D.C. Twenty-First Annual Convention 1,647 residents and alumni attend; Theme: Self-Reliance • Self-Respect

Over 3,200 self-sustaining sober houses utilizing the Oxford House model.

More than 25,000 individuals in recovery living in houses at any one time during a year; with more than 46,000 living in an Oxford House during course of the year.

# data[].attributes.body
There is a housing crisis in Oregon and many Oxford Sober living homes have been lost due to lack of funding. Many issues are effecting the housing crisis in general and have to do with the economy at large. There is a wage gap occurring in the U.S. which is effecting the job market. Making it harder for people to get jobs.  There is also a high demand for furthering education which wasn’t the case twenty years ago. Now much more than a high school diploma is wanted for many entry level jobs. There for it is harder for people to maintain a job and stabilize housing with demands always changing.

Climate change is also effecting the job market by causing more accidents from extreme weather conditions. People lose a significant other due to weather related conditions every year. Specifically heat, according to www.verifythis.com

Globalization is also a factor in availability of jobs due to many jobs being outsourced to other countries (Openstax 2020).

Government & Politics play a roll as well in the housing crisis. There is a power struggle going on within our country. Many of the nations rich hold the majority of the United States wealth.
There is a graph that can been seen at pew research here @ www.pewresearch.org

# data[].attributes.body
Photograph was taken last Thanksgiving when we celebrated by cooking a duck with all the trimmings.

Globalization on Thanksgiving: The turkey we eat is not native to America but from Mexico. (Why we have globalization to thank for Thanksgiving)

Families are changing in all kinds of ways. Today a family can be a group of people living together under the same roof who look out and care for one another. The government  in the U.S. doesn’t consider that to be family but family is what you make of it.

Families are changing due to the economy as well. More people in their 40’s are living back at home with parents to save money or living with friends. In my case I’ve been living in Oxford for a very long time to save money. It’s usually $500 a month in most group living situations when your in recovery and that is very appealing and hard to leave because quality of life can improve by spending less on housing.