Arnold M. Washton

Arnold M. Washton, Ph.D., Addiction Psychologist and Executive Director, Recovery Options; Substance Abuse Consultant, Princeton House Behavioral Health will speak on “Financial Stress: How economic woes fuel alcohol and drug abuse” at the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Before Business Breakfast meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at the Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street, Princeton. The meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. with registration and networking, followed by breakfast and the program ending at approximately 9:15 a.m. Cost to attend is $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non members. Reservations in advance are required and can be made at www.princetonchamber.org or by calling 609-924-1776.

In an economic downturn, says Dr. Washton, those who are worried about the future are more vulnerable to “self-medicating” with alcohol or other drugs. “When faced with financial hardship and/or job loss, even people with no previous history of alcohol or drug problems can find themselves drinking more or taking larger doses of sleeping pills.” says Dr. Washton. He will describe the early warning signs of substance abuse, how to short-circuit this problem before it gets out of hand, and how to improve coping skills to deal with financial stress and other life problems.

Dr. Washton is a nationally and internationally known clinician, researcher, author, and lecturer. He has directed several nationally-known addiction treatment programs and been a consultant to professional sports teams, government agencies, media organizations, and major corporations. He has been a recipient of clinical research grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, has served on the Substance Abuse Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and has given expert testimony before special committees of the U.S. Congress.