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The Rip Van Winkle Effect in Addiction Recovery

April 2, 2010 by

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Dr. Gracer and Jeri Stegman, Program Director at Gracer Behavioral Health Services, discuss The Rip Van Winkle Effect, which describes what chemical dependency patients experience when they “wake up” after using drugs for a long time.

When people use drugs, it becomes their prime, and often only, coping mechanism. If they start in high school, they may fail to learn many basic life skills and social norms. When they start recovery, they often find themselves confused and/or angry; and dealing with their feelings is difficult for them because they never have learned healthy ways to work out certain social issues.

Another factor is the effect on the family unit, as the recovering individual starts making contributions and expressing desires. Realizing that the Rip Van Winkle effect is a common problem and aiming treatment towards it is vital to successful recovery.

More about Jeri Stegman

Ms. Stegman has worked in behavioral health for over 20 years. She has a Masters degree in clinical psychology with an addictions studies specialization and is a registered addictions specialist (RAS). With experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings, Ms. Stegman has provided substance abuse counseling for many years. She has worked in a senior management capacity at a leading behavioral healthcare non-profit in Northern California where she managed several criminal justice programs, women’s programs, adolescent programs, federally-funded adolescent substance abuse prevention programs and an intensive outpatient program treating substance abuse patients with co-occurring mental health disorders.

Additionally, Ms. Stegman is a surveyor with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). During her 20 year history in the addictions field she has been instrumental in preparing organizations for both CARF and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) accreditation.

Ms. Stegman currently brings her wealth of addictions treatment experience to Gracer Behavioral Health Services, where she provides substance abuse counseling services as part of this cutting edge team that is bringing the very latest in substance abuse and mental health services to Northern California.

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About Richard Gracer

Richard I. Gracer, MD, is the founder of Gracer Behavioral Health Services, an innovative and comprehensive substance abuse program that stresses the reduction of cravings, and has been in medical practice since 1974. He is certified in Addiction Medicine and Family Practice, and a Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management. He edited Beating the Years, Beating Sports Injuries, and Beating Back Pain (Barron’s, 2003,2005, 2006), and wrote the popular “Ask the Doctor” column in the Lamorinda Sun for 10 years. He is the author of A New Prescription for Addiction.

Dr. Gracer is also the Host of A New Prescription for Health on WomensRadio. A New Prescription for Healthfeatures discussions with noted experts, both researchers and practitioners, on cutting edge, holistic, and comprehensive treatments for pain and addiction. Aimed at the educated person seeking more information, this series provides hard-to-get information and insights, including interviews with actual patients, on treatment of these difficult and pervasive problems.

Email Dr. Richard Gracer by clicking HERE.