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Unique Conference Set in Albuquerque
March 19th, 2012 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
As part of its ongoing support of addiction recovery for Native communities in North America, Betty Ford Institute will co-sponsor a training for professionals in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 2nd Annual Professional Development and Training on Indigenous Prevention Strategies on Substance Use and Other Behavioral Health Issues will take place March 28th through April 1 st . The theme for this year’s conference is 'Healing Addictions Through Education, Treatment, and Native Traditions.' Betty Ford Institute will take an active role in presentations throughout the conference. Arthur...

O’Connor Receives Award Recognizing Lifetime of Achievement
October 17th, 2011 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
Garrett O’Connor, MD, recently received an award on the opening evening of the California Society of Addiction Medicine's (CSAM's) State of the Art Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, California, to honor the profound contributions that he has made to the field of addiction medicine. The California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) recognized Garrett O'Connor, MD, of the Betty Ford Institute, for a lifetime of achievement in addiction medicine. At the ceremony held at CSAM's State of the Art Conference in Long Beach, CA, Karen Miotto, MD, presented Dr. O'Connor with a...

Dr. Carl Erickson Examines the Progress of Addiction Science
August 1st, 2011 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
BFI Executive Council member, Carl Erickson, discusses the progress of addiction science over the last 20 years. http://www.statesman.com/opinion/insight/texas-expert-addiction-science-has-taken-giant-steps-1642154.html?viewAsSinglePage=true Dr. Erickson, professor of Pharmacology/Toxicology at The University of Texas at Austin, has been studying addiction for the past 30 years. He is the author of more than 260 peer-reviewed and professional publications, including two sole-authored books: The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment (W.W. Norton, New York, 2007) and a...

BFI Participates in Refining the Definition of Recovery
July 29th, 2011 / Featured / Betty Ford Institute
Betty Ford Institute, whose inaugural conference, “What is Recovery? A Working Definition” tackled a fundamental issue in the addiction treatment field of how recovery is defined and measured, is supporting a new research program which aims to further refine the term. The term ‘recovery’ is widely used in addiction research literature. It also appears in NIAAA’s strategic plan, and in the title of one of its divisions. Recovery is a goal of alcohol and drug abuse treatment. Addicts and alcoholics who no longer drink or use who are trying to pursue an improved way of living say...

112 Medical Students to Receive Full Scholarships
April 22nd, 2011 / Featured / Betty Ford Institute
Betty Ford Institute concluded the selection process for the 2011 Summer Institute for Medical Students program this week. From 271 applications received, 112 students were selected to receive full scholarships to attend the intensive experiential learning program about the treatment of addiction. To be considered for a scholarship, students submitted letters of recommendations from their professors and personal essays about what they were hoping to learn from the training. Selected students will participate in one of seven week-long sessions from May through August. Donations from...

Unique Training Experience Appeals to Participants from Across the Country
April 14th, 2011 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
The 1 st Annual Professional Development and Training on Indigenous Prevention Strategies on Substance Use and Other Behavioral Issues conference was held March 28 through April 1, 2011 at the Marriott Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As part of its ongoing support of addiction recovery for Native communities in North America, Betty Ford Institute co-sponsored the training event. Patrick Haggerson, M.A., I.C.A.D.C. Program Director of Ethno Cultural Activities for Betty Ford Institute, was an active participant in the six-day event, which featured more than 20 day-long classes....

Dr. Garrett O’Connor Delivers Keynote Address at University Day at NYU
April 13th, 2011 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
The second annual University Day organized by Glucksman Ireland House at NYU will take place on Saturday April 16th. The event, entitled, “Who Do We Think We Are? The Irish Family” will focus on Irish family issues. Dr. Garrett O'Connor will deliver the keynote lecture, "Resilience, Shame, Alcohol and Survival: The Tragic and Triumphant Alchemy of Irish Cultural History," which will explore the complex elements of the Irish historical experience with alcohol, and how that experience illuminates contemporary family life in Ireland. For the past 20 years, Dr. O’Connor has striven...

National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Webinar Features Betty Ford Children’s Program Staff
March 31st, 2011 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
Next week, Betty Ford Children's Program Clinical Coordinator, Elizabeth Devine, will present an important online workshop for any counseling professional who has encountered addiction in family situations. The webinar, titled, “Children's Perspectives on Addiction in the Home: Considerations for Professionals,” is scheduled for April 6, 2011 at 11:30 AM Mountain Time. Using children's artwork and writings, this webinar will provide participants with insight regarding the mental and emotional perspective of children growing up with alcohol or drug addicted caregivers. Children within...

NIC Announces 2011 Laurel Wreath Award Winners
March 23rd, 2011 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
North-American Interfraternity Conference Posted by Ben Pendry , March 22, 2011 INDIANAPOLIS (3/22/11) - Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Chi, and the University of Alabama Fraternity Community along with President Dr. Robert E Witt will be honored with the 2011 North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Laurel Wreath Award for their industry leading initiatives that have advanced the fraternal movement. The awards will be presented at the NIC Annual Meeting in Washington, DC on April 10, 2011. Alpha Tau Omega implemented Congress - LIVE at their most recent national convention. ...

Betty Ford Institute Ethno-Cultural Activities Program Co-Sponsors Specialized Training Conference
March 23rd, 2011 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
Film Production Manager of "the Honour of All" Will be Plenary Speaker As part of its ongoing support of addiction recovery for Native communities in North America, Betty Ford Institute will co-sponsor a training for professionals in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 1 st Annual Professional Development and Training on Indigenous Prevention Strategies on Substance Use and Other Behavioral Health Issues will take place on March 28th through April 1 st . Although titled the “1 st Annual”, this conference is operated by the renowned American Indian Training Institute that has a...

Filling in a Gap in Medical Education
March 8th, 2011 / Featured / Betty Ford Institute
(Application Deadline for Summer Program is Approaching!) Is it true that most medical students become licensed as physicians without having been taught to recognize an addict when they see one in their practice? Unfortunately, the reality is that medical students still have few opportunities to learn in school about diagnosing and treating addiction. This dearth of educational opportunities led to the creation of the Summer Institute for Medical Students (SIMS) in 1988 at the Betty Ford Center under the leadership of James West, M.D. Since then, more than 2,500 students have...

Dr. Garrett O’Connor Honored in Ireland
December 2nd, 2010 / Featured / Betty Ford Institute
Professor James L. Browne, President of the National University of Ireland at Galway, left, Dr. Garrett O’Connor and Dr. Maurice Manning, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland at Dublin. On December 2, 2010, in a ceremony scaled down due to extremely adverse weather conditions, the Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Dublin, conferred honorary doctorate degrees on actor, Brendan Gleeson; nuclear physicist Professor Richard Milner and Dr. Garrett O’Connor, President of the Betty Ford Institute. Honorary degrees are awarded by the university to...

Pleasure Unwoven: A Personal Journey About Addiction
November 11th, 2010 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
The Betty Ford Institute is pleased to share with you a video that beautifully and eloquently explains how addiction is a disease. “Pleasure Unwoven: A Personal Journey About Addiction” is presented by The Institute for Addiction Study, written by Kevin McCauley, cinematography by Norman Bosworth and produced by Jim Clegg. The most important question about addiction is: "Is it really a "disease?" In this video essay, filmed in high-definition, Kevin McCauley explores the arguments for and against this vital debate, reviewing the latest neuroscientific research about addiction along...

“Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics”
November 11th, 2010 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
On Sunday, November 14, 2010, a special edition of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee will bring attention to a problem that approximately 11 million kids in the U.S. have been suffering with silently for too long. “Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics” tells the story of 5 kids who live with alcoholic parents and the challenges they face because of it. “It was like I was the mother,” says Kate, 12, from New Mexico. “I have lost some of my childhood…I know things some kids my age don't know — like maybe should not know." “What children of alcoholics...

Betty Ford Institute Begins Organized Efforts on Parent Focused Strategies to Break Cycles of Addiction
October 7th, 2010 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
Helping recovering parents prevent their children from developing drug abuse or dependence was the subject of a September 29 through October 1 Conference sponsored by Betty Ford Institute (BFI) in Washington, D.C. “Breaking Intergenerational Cycles of Addiction: Parent-Focused Strategies” brought together researchers, policy makers, practitioners and recovering parents to discuss and promote the need for including parenting skills education as a standard part of addiction treatment. Sponsors included SAMHSA/CSAT, Legacy, and the Norlien Foundation of Calgary, Canada....

Betty Ford Institute Established To Support And Conduct Research, Education, Policy Development On Alcohol And Other Drug Use/Abuse And Dependency
June 10th, 2010 / News and Press Releases / Betty Ford Institute
Institute Convenes Inaugural Conference September 18-20, 2006; Experts in Addiction Field Assemble in Rancho Mirage, California; Topic: “Defining & Measuring Recovery” Rancho Mirage, CA, September 14, 2006 – Former First Lady Betty Ford, Co-founder of the Betty Ford Center, announced today the establishment of the Betty Ford Institute. It will operate independently of the non-profit licensed addiction treatment hospital. Seventy-five thousand women and men addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs and their affected family members have received...