My introduction to the field of substance use and addiction was an accidental one. Despite nearly three decades of involvement, I find myself still in this field. While some circumstances align, others do not, but in this case, the confusion surrounding addiction and its impact on our population has remained with me. I will delve deeper into this topic in subsequent posts.
One of my earliest and most memorable encounters with the leading figures in the North Carolina substance use field was with Mr. Al Greene. Mr. Greene served as a Professor at Appalachian State University. Regrettably, I never had the opportunity to learn from him in the classroom during my time as a student at App State, but I had the privilege of interacting with him on numerous occasions in professional development settings.
My first encounter with Mr. Greene occurred during a training session at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina. At that time, the Montreat Conference Center hosted the North Carolina Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Studies Winter School.
My participation in the week-long school allowed me to join an introduction to substance use counseling training track. Mr. Greene was my instructor. I distinctly recall several aspects of that week: meeting Mr. Greene, learning from a master, his sense of humor, and most importantly, my exposure to Greene’s Rules for Do-Gooders. These Rules were published in “A Practical Approach to Therapy with the Chemically Dependent Person,” a book authored by Professor Greene, ACSW and Gene Saussure, Ph.D.
Over the years, I have diligently searched online for a copy of this monograph, but I was eventually able to obtain a copy of Greene’s Rules that are included in the Appendix A of the book. As a newly minted professional, these Rules provided a fresh perspective, and as I have matured, they have continued to guide and educate me. I always ensure that new counselor supervisors receive a copy of these Rules.