Circles of Recovery

DOB: April 11, 1966. Professor Humphreys has published more than 100 scientific articles, has received national and international awards for his work, and has served on expert consultant panels for The Center for Mental Health Services, The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, The Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research, The Department of Veterans' Affairs, and The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He has also served as a consultant on mental health related issues to agencies in other nations, including Spain, Canada, Ireland and post-apartheid South Africa. From March through June of 2002, he was on sabbatical at The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, where he worked on policies concerning drug treatment, prevention and education.

• Acknowledgements; 1. Definitions, scope, and origin of the health-related self-help group movement; 2. An international tour of addiction-related mutual help organizations; 3. Does self-help group participation produce positive substance abuse, psychiatric, and medical outcomes?; 4. A different perspective on change in self-help organizations: spirituality, identity, life stories, friendship networks, and politicization; 5. Government, health care organization, and clinical interactions with self-help organizations; Epilogue: summing up, moving forward; References; Index.

Review of the hardback: 'This book presents a clear and comprehensive international overview of the history of self-help groups and the evidence for their efficacy in recovery … This book is a must read for all addiction professionals as well as all other mental health professionals who encounter substance abuse problems in their clients.' Psychological Medicine