The Catalyst Podcast

The State of the Art in Addiction and Recovery with a True Giant in the Field

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We’re joined by Mr. William L. White, a true giant in the field of addiction and recovery. Bill is an Emeritus Senior Research Consultant at Chestnut Health Systems/Lighthouse Institute and has worked full time in the addictions field since 1969.  His book, Slaying the Dragon – The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America, received the McGovern Family Foundation Award for the best book on addiction recovery. Bill was featured in the Bill Moyers’ PBS special “Close To Home: Addiction in America” and Showtime’s documentary “Smoking, Drinking and Drugging in the 20th Century.” 

In a fitting tribute to his life’s work, Chestnut and the Lighthouse Institute are building an online library/repository of the more than 20,000 books, articles, and materials Bill has collected over the years. 


We discuss: 

  • his early inspirations
  • the sweeping changes in the field over the course of his career
  • if there’s a “grand unified theory” of addictive behaviors
  • the telltale signs to watch for when evaluating a person for a substance abuse disorder
  • best practices in treating people suffering from addiction
  • stages of recovery and how to measure the success of treatment
  • recommendations to a family member who’s in a household with a substance abuser
  • the advice would you give the younger Bill White, and what he’d say to someone considering entering the field. 

    • A fascinating conversation with a remarkable man who has left an astounding legacy.  

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    The Catalyst PodcastBy The Catalyst Podcast