Addictions Treatment Self Guided Roadmap

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Culture Heals™ free to use?

We believe education is the key in helping individuals to help themselves to begin their path to healing. Culture Heals™ offers resources for those who choose to take a deeper dive into learning. As such, it is funded by the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
How do I get started?

Once you sign up, the Get Started page will orient you to the program and provide you with access to three introductory videos. Plus, we host monthly online trainings that provide helpful guidance for integrating Culture Heals into your recovery plan or healthcare practice.
Is Culture Heals™ a replacement for addiction treatment?

No. This program does not replace professional or expert treatment. It’s a self-guided roadmap designed to help you better understand and address problems related to alcohol, other drugs, and/or behavioral addictions.

It encourages use of traditional treatment, self-help groups, and other interventions shown to be effective in reducing or stopping problematic behaviors. Because over 90% of people who could benefit from treatment don’t receive it, this program fills a much needed gap by offering you an online, self-guided change program with 24/7 crisis and peer-recovery phone support.
Why does this program address all addictions when other programs focus on specific addictions?

Most people who struggle with addiction suffer from multiple addictions, all of which hijack the brain and behavior in similar ways. So, intervening on one addiction while leaving others unaddressed, results in poor outcomes and high relapse rates.

Addictions also share similar roots, including attachment problems, adverse childhood experiences, and co-occurring disorders that require intervention. Having different programs to address different addictions when the roots for them all are similar, is not a productive use of your time and energy. Also, most effective interventions are not specific to one addiction, but work equally well across both substance and behavioral addictions.
Does this program address the underlying drivers or roots of addiction?

Yes. If you are to successfully overcome addiction, its critical that you understand the origins of your addictions, and the underlying factors that continue to perpetuate your behavior today. Among the most powerful underlying leverage points for change include insecure attachment, untreated trauma, and unaddressed co-occurring disorders, all of which are addressed in Culture Heals™.
What's included in the program?

Culture Heals™ includes over 100 videos, 3-5 minutes in length, organized into learning modules. In total, there is about 6.5 hours of engaging content. Most videos also include links to additional resources such as TED Talks, books, and downloadable tools.

The program comes with free 24/7 phone support, and also includes extensive self-screening and assessment tools to help you identify problems with substance use and/or behavioral addictions in your life. The tools are not diagnostic, but may help you identify issues that contribute to your ongoing struggles. And if indicated, they will encourage further evaluation by treatment professionals.
What is pre-addiction?

Pre-addiction is use of substances or behaviors (gambling, sex, food, technology) that put you at risk for addiction. It’s similar to pre-diabetes in that the earlier you intervene, the better chance you have of preventing a more serious condition. No matter where you may be on the spectrum of pre-addiction/addiction, the Culture Heals Program™ can help you assess your risks and develop and plan to wellness. For more information on pre-addiction, see Preaddiction – A Missing Concept for Treating Substance Use Disorders.