Chris Schroeder is the Director of Media for C4 Recovery Solutions. In his role with C4, he has been tasked with hosting and developing the webcast show, The Afflicted and Affected, interviewing leaders in the addictive illness field and other interesting personalities revolving around the recovery world. Chris comes into contact with those who research and apply the latest methods of treatment and those who are a force in positive change in outcomes and funding both politically and in the media.

Where Have all the Old School 12 Step Treatment Centers Gone? When I first sought treatment for my drinking there were any number of treatment centers that touted themselves as 12 Step Oriented. This was before the Managed Care boom diminished a centers ability to gain reimbursements with out meeting new regulations. Regulations largely ineffective in the treatment of alcoholism or addictions. These centers were all about getting you 12 step fellowship contacts and encouraging you to become active within those fellowships. At the center I went to you were told – no membership and participation in 12 step – no permanent sobriety. This proved more true then I believed at the time. Because the counselors were mostly from these fellowships they understood what inattention to consistent work with recovery principles would result in. These Old School counselors have been mostly replaced by a licensed and trained, yet sorely underpaid, professional class. An any other medical treatment modality this would be a good thing – who would want a heart specialist who’s qualifications were a successful heart surgery alone? However addiction is an unorthodox illness. It presents all over the board. You can be diagnosed with most, if not all, psychological disorders while suffering from it. On the outside it looks like the best forms of treatment are the ones designed to care for these symptoms. In actual fact the largest group of people in recovery or having recovered from addictions can be found in and around the 12 step fellowships. This is due to many factors, the one of most important is the combined effort that results promoting and encouraging one to stay consistent with actions and attitudes that result in those recovery’s. Real recovery comes from spiritual processes and not psychological practices. Ask those who have succeeded in long term recovery what the reasons are. There seems like there has been a push to eliminate the Old School counselors, through heaver licensing and other forms of certifications that tend to exclude these very seasoned, wizened experienced people for low paid right out of school folks or hobby job people who have some clinical training but not a clue how to deal with the real alcoholic or addict. This works to help with reimbursements but there is now way that positive outcomes – the type measuring length of sobriety – are improved. Addiction is under a very subtle attack by those who portray themselves to be our best advocates.

Chris Schroeder has been a host of various TV and radio shows and has been active lecturing at recovery centers, correctional facilities and graduate schools over the past 17 years promoting the abstinence/12 step processes. His dedication and passion for helping those afflicted with alcoholism and drug addiction has taken him around the world and back to offer guidance and knowledge to those in need. Chris has worked in management of educational facilities since 1991 and is also is a co-founder of the organization “A National Association of Recovered Alcoholics and Addicts”.