Episode 12: Am I drinking too much in the pandemic? Let’s discuss addiction with Dr. Jorja Jamison

Liquor sales have soared through the roof with the onset of the global pandemic. You’re not alone if your alcohol consumption has increased this year. Do you ever wonder how much is okay? Have you asked yourself if you should cut back? 

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jorja Jamison from Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. She talks about substance abuse disorders, ways to reflect on our own alcohol use, and how to recognize when we or someone we know has a problem with an addiction. 

September is National Recovery Month, and we hope we can shed a little more light on the terrible disease that is addiction. Afterward, we hope you’ll have a framework for how you relate to alcohol. 

Key takeaways

A little about herself, her career path, and what she doesWhat substance abuse disorder or addiction isCommon criteria most people qualify forRoot causes for developing addictionsHow COVID-19 has affected substance abuse disorders and alcohol useWhen it’s okay/not okay to consume alcoholFour levels of abuseMost common addiction she has seenUnique challenges she has seen when dealing with medical professionals and addictionCommon signs of addictionWhat recovery is likeWays people can find connection and improve their coping skillsCoping tips she recommendsWhere boredom comes into playWhat the 12-step program is all about and how successful it isAdditional resources she recommends for those who are looking for helpDefinition of co-dependenceHow it plays out in addictions in the familyThree Cs of Al-AnonAt one point is intervention recommendedHow to effectively deal when you’re struggling with somethingBenefits of going through the program and how it transforms people’s livesHer message for the listeners

Links

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) - https://auditscreen.org/Alcoholics Anonymous - https://www.aa.org/Narcotics Anonymous - https://www.na.org/Co-Dependents Anonymous - https://coda.org/Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Substance Use Addiction - https://www.smartrecovery.org/what-is-medication-assisted-treatment-mat/Al-Anon - https://al-anon.org/

Jorja Jamison, PhD, LP, Associate Professor Bio:
PhD, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, Counseling Psychology
MS, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, Educational Psychology
BA, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Latin Language and Literature

Dr. Jorja Jamison is an Associate Professor at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate
School of Addiction Studies. She has a PhD in counseling psychology with academic
and research interests in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ)
issues, multicultural counseling, supervision, and addiction. Dr. Jamison joined the
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in 2012. She served as
the clinical placement coordinator for 2.5 years. She has taught several courses,
including multicultural counseling, differential diagnosis, professional practice, and
lifespan development. She is also a licensed psychologist in the state of Minnesota
with specialization in working with individuals with substance use disorders,
adolescents, vocational issues, and culturally responsive counseling. She has
presented at national conferences including the American Psychological Association
and the National Conference on Addictive Disorders.