Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse

by Leonard A. Jason, Bradley D. Olson

An effective treatment to help those with addictions Victims of drug addiction, chronic illness, and mental illness all too often are overwhelmed with the affliction called hopelessness. Oxford Houses succeed because their substance abuse treatment approach instills the most powerful medicine―hope for recovery. Rescued The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse provides a comprehensive thought-provoking look at just how the innovative Oxford House model inspires positive action on one of our country’s most serious problems―substance abuse. This powerful book presents the success stories of the people living in these community homes and explains just how it has worked for them. Rescued The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse gives an insightful review of Oxford House’s history and the development of the approach. Residents’ stories reveal the treatment process on the road to recovery, allowing readers to glimpse the path each individual must travel to gain entrance and assimilate into the House community. As the residents gain more control over themselves living substance free, the reader discovers the importance of relationships and reframing of self in the recovery process. This powerful book can provide hope to those individuals who feel they have lost themselves in alcohol, drugs, and mental illness. Foreword by substance abuse scholar Bill White. Topics in Rescued The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse • an overview of substance abuse in today’s society • a history of Oxford House to the present • substance abuse treatment approaches • the process of a resident’s entrance and assimilation • providing hope and living substance free • the nationwide expansion of Oxford Houses • recovery, and what it means to women, children, and families • criminal offenders in Oxford House • how the Oxford House model is constructed in order to help disenfranchised individuals from society • the nine Oxford House Traditions • a review of the strong evidence that Oxford House works ―and why • and more! Rescued The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse is enlightening reading for educators and students of psychology, sociology, urban studies, education, and other courses designed to prepare students for careers in the helping professions. This book is also essential for practicing clinicians, anyone concerned with society’s problems and those impacted by substance abuse and mental illness.

268 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2007

About the author

Leonard A. Jason is a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, where he also directs the Center for Community Research. His chief professional interests include the study of chronic fatigue syndrome, smoking, smoking cessation, and Oxford House recovery homes for substance abuse. Jason's interest in chronic fatigue syndrome began when he was diagnosed with the condition in 1990 after having mononucleosis.

Jason is a former president of the Division of Community Psychology of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a past editor of The Community Psychologist. Jason has edited or written 23 books, and he has published 541 articles and 77 book chapters on CFS, recovery homes, the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse, media interventions and program evaluation. He has served on 83 Thesis Committees (of which he chaired 57), and 70 Dissertation Committees (of which he chaired 36). He has served on the editorial boards of ten psychological journals. Jason has served on review committees of the National Institutes of Health, and he has received over $26,000,000 in federal research grants. He was also a board member and vice-president for an advocacy group called International Association of CFS/ME.

He is a member the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee. In 1999, Jason published an epidemiological study of chronic fatigue syndrome among United States adults. Jason helped organize two major American Psychological Association sponsored conferences on research methods for community psychology and recently co-edited a book on this topic.

Jason has served on the editorial boards of journals including:
-Prevention in Human Services, 1986-1995; renamed Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 1996–present.
-Journal of Community Psychology, 1983-1986, 2007–present.
-The Journal of Primary Prevention, 1983-1986. Appointed Associate Editor, 1986-2007.
-Special Services in the Schools; renamed Journal of Applied School Psychology 1984-2008.

Jason received the 1997 Distinguished Contributions to Theory and Research Award and the 2007 Special Contribution to Public Policy award of the Society for Community Research and Action. He was presented the 1997 CFIDS Support Network ACTION Champion Award by the Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America.

He received the Dutch ME Foundation International ME Award in 2003. He has been awarded three media awards from the APA.