TIPS and TOPICS
Vol 2, No.2
May 2004

In this issue
– SAVVY
– SKILLS
– SOUL
– STUMP THE SHRINK
– Until next time

WELCOME!

Welcome to the May edition of TIPS and TOPICS. Unlike big magazines like TIME where you receive the week’s edition before the date on the cover, this humble effort usually comes late in the month. Finding the “spare time” to get this to you often gets lost in other deadlines. But here it is.

TIPS and TOPICS
Vol 2, No.1
April 2004

In this issue
– SAVVY
– SKILLS
– SOUL
– STUMP THE SHRINK
– SUCCESS STORIES
– Until next time

WELCOME!

This April edition of TIPS and TOPICS marks the beginning of the second year of these monthly bits and pieces from me to you. If you have been getting these from the very first edition, I hope they have been useful in your work and life. If you are new to TIPS and TOPICS, welcome to an unscripted array of issues that arise from reflections about my training and consulting practice (often as I sit on airplanes).

TIPS and TOPICS
Vol 1, No.11
March 2004

In this issue
– SAVVY
– SKILLS
– SOUL
– Until next time

WELCOME!

Recently I was training on the ASAM Criteria. I was surprised by some fundamental misunderstandings even from people using the criteria for many years. As you may know, I have been involved with, and chaired the development of the Patient Placement Criteria (PPC) for the Treatment of Substance Related Disorders of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) since its beginning in the late 1980’s. For those of you who do not know the ASAM PPC, these are consensus criteria that match people with substance use problems to the appropriate level of care within a broad continuum of services.

TIPS and TOPICS
Volume 1, No. 10
February 2004

In this issue
– SAVVY……..
– SKILLS……..
– SOUL………
– STUMP the SHRINK…
– SUGGESTIONS………
– SHARING SOLUTIONS…….
– Until next time……..

WELCOME!

On February 11, 2004 there was a press release from Join Together- a project of the Boston University School of Public Health- that had convened a national policy panel in the summer of 2002. Their task was to address the quality of treatment for substance use disorders. The panel’s primary recommendation called for a fundamental change in the payment system for treating drug and alcohol disorders – that payment should be based on the results achieved; that purchasers of treatment services should reward results.

TIPS and TOPICS

Volume 1, No. 9
January 2004

In this issue
– SAVVY
– SKILLS
– SOUL
– STUMP the SHRINK
– SUCCESS STORIES
– Until next time

WELCOME!

It is already moving towards February. I know it is clichéd to say, but I can’t believe how fast the year is racing by. I hope you are as busy (in the productive sense) as I am. But I also hope you have more balance in your life than I have at present. I have already broken my New Year’s resolution for more balance. By declaring this here I am putting myself on notice to check the balance-meter more often and more effectively.

TIPS and TOPICS
Vol 1, No.8
December 2003

In this issue
– SAVVY
– SKILLS
– SOUL
– SUCCESS STORIES
– SHAMELESS SELLING
– Until next time

WELCOME!

Holiday greetings everyone! Thank you for reading this December edition of TIPS and TOPICS. I enjoy sharing some thoughts with you each month. I am glad that many of you find some tidbit to help you think about the work we do for the people we serve.

TIPS and TOPICS
Volume 1, No. 7
November 2003

In this issue
– SAVVY……..
– SKILLS……..
– SOUL………
– STUMP the SHRINK…
– Until next time……

WELCOME!

Welcome to November’s edition of TIPS and TOPICS. Thanks to all of you who take the time to write to tell me how you are appreciating and using the TIPS and TOPICS with your team and agency. I may not have written you back, but I do read all your messages and am very grateful for your comments and questions.

TIPS and TOPICS
Vol 1, No.6
October 2003

In this issue

– SAVVY
– SKILLS
– SOUL
– SHAMELESS SELLING
– STUMP the SHRINK
– Until next time

WELCOME!

A TIPS & TOPICS reader recently asked about information on adolescent treatment. I realized that many of you are working with youth and adolescents, and we have not addressed your needs specifically thus far. So for everyone who works with adolescents, or has ever been an adolescent, this edition is for you.

TIPS and TOPICS
Vol 1, No.5
August- September 2003

– SAVVY
– SKILLS
– SOUL
– STUMP the SHRINK
– SUCCESS STORIES
– Until next time

WELCOME!

I have been in summer vacation mode, so this August edition of TIPS & TOPICS is a little later than usual. In fact, since this is already September, I’ve decied to give myself a break and give you less mail to read. So this is now an expanded August-September edition which has the usual sections, with two additional sections that appear periodically – “Stump the Shrink” and “Success Stories”.

TIPS and TOPICS
Vol 1, No.3
June 2003

In this issue
– SAVVY
– SKILLS
– SOUL
– SUCCESS STORIES
– Until next time……

WELCOME!

Thank-you for taking the time to read this third edition of TIPS and TOPICS. If you are receiving this for the first time, the April and May editions are on my website. Certainly feel free to forward TIPS and TOPICS to others who may be interested.