Arnold M. Washton

A native of New York City, born and raised in The Bronx, Washton began his education in psychology at New York University where he earned a B.A. degree in 1968, followed by an M.A. from Queens College of The City University of New York 1973 and a Ph.D. in psychology from The Graduate School of the City University of New York in 1978.{{Cite web |title=Arnold M. Washton |url=https://www.guilford.com/author/Arnold-M-Washton |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Guilford Press }}

Starting in the early 1980s, he brought to public attention the emerging epidemic of cocaine use in the United States and spearheaded an effort to formally recognize cocaine “addiction” as a phenomenon worthy of medical classification.{{Cite journal |last1=Washton |first1=Arnold M |last2=Gold |first2=Mark S |date=October 1984 |title=Chronic Cocaine Abuse: Evidence for Adverse Effects on Health and Functioning |url=https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/0048-5713-19841001-09 |journal=Psychiatric Annals |volume=14 |issue=10 |pages=733–743 |doi=10.3928/0048-5713-19841001-09 |issn=0048-5713|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite book |title=Cocaine: a clinician's handbook |date=1987 |publisher=Guilford Press |isbn=978-0-89862-725-1 |editor-last=Washton |editor-first=Arnold M. |location=New York |editor-last2=Gold |editor-first2=Mark S.}}{{Cite journal |last=Hanbury |first=Raymond F. |date=1988 |title=Review of Cocaine: A clinician's handbook. |url=https://doi.apa.org/doi/10.1037/h0084862 |journal=Psychology of Addictive Behaviors |language=en |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=97–100 |doi=10.1037/h0084862 |issn=1939-1501|url-access=subscription }} This challenged the long-held but mistaken belief that cocaine was not truly “addictive” because abrupt discontinuation of cocaine use did not give rise to definitive withdrawal syndrome as is the case with heroin and other opioids. Washton’s work has also contributed to a greater understanding of the role of medication assisted treatment for addiction, including the clinical value of opioid antagonists such as naltrexone and naloxone.{{Cite journal |last1=Washton |first1=Arnold M. |last2=Resnick |first2=Richard B. |date=1981-09-10 |title=Clonidine in Opiate Withdrawal: Review and Appraisal of Clinical Findings |url=https://accpjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1875-9114.1981.tb03561.x |journal=Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=140–146 |doi=10.1002/j.1875-9114.1981.tb03561.x |pmid=6765486 |issn=0277-0008|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Gold |first1=Mark S. |last2=Dackis |first2=Charles A. |last3=Washton |first3=Arnold M. |date=1984-04-27 |title=The Sequential Use of Clonidine and Naltrexone in the Treatment of Opiate Addicts |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J251v03n03_03 |journal=Advances in Alcohol & Substance Abuse |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=19–39 |doi=10.1300/J251v03n03_03 |pmid=6388273 |issn=0270-3106|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Resnick |first1=Richard B. |last2=Schuyten-Resnick |first2=Elaine |last3=Washton |first3=Arnold M. |date=1979-03-01 |title=Narcotic antagonists in the treatment of opioid dependence: Review and commentary |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0010440X79900427 |journal=Comprehensive Psychiatry |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=116–125 |doi=10.1016/0010-440X(79)90042-7 |pmid=421447 |issn=0010-440X|url-access=subscription }} Washton has developed specialized approaches for treating addiction in high-fuctioning individuals including corporate executives, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.{{Cite book |last=Washton |first=Arnold M |title=Alcohol and drug abuse in the affluent |date=1984 |publisher=Haworth |isbn=978-0-86656-332-1 |editor-last=Stimmel |editor-first=Barry |location=New York |pages=89–96}}{{Cite journal |last=Washton 2 |first=Arnold M 2 |date=1984 |title=Upper-income cocaine abusers |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J251v04n02_05 |journal=Advances in Alcohol & Substance Abuse |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=51–57 |doi=10.1300/J251v04n02_05 |pmid=6524506 |via=Taylor & Francis|url-access=subscription }} He has promoted evidence-based treatment protocol for substance abuse, including marijuana abuse,{{Cite journal |last1=Gold |first1=Mark S |last2=Washton |first2=Arnold M |last3=Dackis |first3=Charles A |last4=Chatlos |first4=J Calvin |date=April 1986 |title=New Treatments for Opiate and Cocaine Users: But What About Marijuana? |url=https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/0048-5713-19860401-06 |journal=Psychiatric Annals |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=206–214 |doi=10.3928/0048-5713-19860401-06 |issn=0048-5713|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Washton |first1=Arnold M. |last2=Stone-Washton |first2=Nannette |date=April 1990 |title=Abstinence and Relapse in Outpatient Cocaine Patients |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.1990.10472539 |journal=Journal of Psychoactive Drugs |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=135–147 |doi=10.1080/02791072.1990.10472539 |pmid=2197390 |issn=0279-1072|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Washton |first1=Arnold M. |last2=Gold |first2=Mark S. |last3=Pottash |first3=A. Carter |date=April 1985 |title=Opiate and cocaine dependencies: Techniques to help counter the rising tide |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00325481.1985.11698968 |journal=Postgraduate Medicine |volume=77 |issue=5 |pages=293–300 |doi=10.1080/00325481.1985.11698968 |pmid=3983028 |issn=0032-5481|url-access=subscription }} and has published on protocols for outpatient treatment of substance abuse.{{Cite book |last=Washton, Tatarsky |first=Arnold M, Andrwer |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781135822767 |title=Chemically Dependent |date=2013-10-28 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-82276-7 |editor-last=Wallace |editor-first=Barbara C. |edition=0 |pages=28–38 |doi=10.4324/9780203727430}}{{Cite journal |last1=Washton |first1=Arnold M. |last2=Stone-Washton |first2=Nannette |date=January 1990 |title=Outpatient Treatment of Cocaine Addiction: Suggestions to Increase Its Effectiveness |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/10826089009088553 |journal=International Journal of the Addictions |volume=25 |issue=sup12 |pages=1421–1429 |doi=10.3109/10826089009088553 |pmid=1966835 |issn=0020-773X|url-access=subscription }}

He has been quoted in the press as a commentator on addiction issues, especially on topics related to challenges faced by professionals struggling with alcohol and other drug problems.{{Cite web |last=PhD |first=Alice G. Walton |title=How Highly Successful People Deal With Depression |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/04/the-most-powerful-ways-to-beat-depression/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Forbes }}{{Cite web |last=PhD |first=Alice G. Walton |title=Why The Super-Successful Get Depressed |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/01/26/why-the-super-successful-get-depressed/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Forbes }}{{Cite web |date=2017-04-12 |title=Mindful Moderate Drinking-- How to Drink Less, Enjoy it More, and Reduce the Risks |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mindful-moderate-drinking-how-to-drink-less-enjoy_b_58ed8744e4b0ea028d568e13 |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=HuffPost }}

In 1998, Washton founded Recovery Options,{{Cite web |title=Addiction Psychologists |url=https://recoveryoptions.us/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Recovery Options }} a private practice in New York City. With his wife, Loraine Washton, he formed The Washton Group{{Cite web |title=The Washton Group |url=https://thewashtongroup.com/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=The Washton Group }} in Princeton, NJ, offering a range of online telehealth addiction and mental health services. The Washton Group specializes in the treatment of executives, professionals, and their families. Treatment incorporates group and individual therapy to support diverse substance use goals, including abstinence, harm reduction, and alcohol moderation. In clinical practice, and in publications, he advances the thesis that "willpower" should not be viewed as a necessary and sufficient condition for recovery.{{Cite book |last1=Washton |first1=Arnold M. |title=Willpower's not enough: understanding and recovering from addictions of every kind |last2=Boundy |first2=Donna |date=1990 |publisher=Harper Paperbacks |isbn=978-0-06-091969-6 |edition=First HarperPerennial |location=New York, NY}}{{Cite journal |last1=Gilbride |first1=Thomas V. |last2=Malow |first2=Robert M. |date=1990 |title=Review of Willpower's not enough: Understanding and recovering from addictions of every kind. |url=https://doi.apa.org/doi/10.1037/h0084882 |journal=Psychology of Addictive Behaviors |language=en |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=118–119 |doi=10.1037/h0084882 |issn=1939-1501|url-access=subscription }}

In addition to his clinical practice, Washton provides professional training and continuing education webinars approved by the American Psychological Association many of which are sponsored by Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology.

Washton has served on the Substance Abuse Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Psychological Association and has provided expert testimony on drug abuse trends in America to both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.

Washton has written ten textbooks published between 1987 and 2023, four monographs published by the Hazelden Foundation (Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation),{{Cite web |title=Hazelden Store: Arnold M. Washton, Ph.D. |url=https://www.hazelden.org/store/author/307?Arnold-M.-Washton,-Ph.D. |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.hazelden.org}} and over 30 articles in refereed journals, including early investigation of the efficacy of Naltrexone.{{Cite report |url=https://doi.apa.org/doi/10.1037/e497452006-021 |title=Clinical Efficacy of Naltrexone: A One Year Follow Up: (497452006-021) |last1=Resnick |first1=Richard |last2=Aronoff |first2=Michael |date=1976 |publisher=American Psychological Association |doi=10.1037/e497452006-021 |last3=Lonborg |first3=Greta |last4=Kestenbaum |first4=Richard |last5=Kauders |first5=Frank |last6=Washton |first6=Arnold |last7=Hough |first7=Gordon|url-access=subscription }} "Treating Alcohol and Drug Problems in Psychotherapy Practice: Doing What Works", co-authored with Joan Zweben, was published in 2006 and updated in 2023.{{Cite book |last1=Washton |first1=Arnold M. |title=Treating alcohol and drug problems in psychotherapy practice: doing what works |last2=Zweben |first2=Joan E. |date=2006 |publisher=Guilford Press |isbn=978-1-57230-077-4 |location=New York}}{{Cite journal |last=PATON |first=A. |date=2006-12-15 |title=Treating Alcohol and Drug Problems in Psychotherapy Practice. By Arnold M. Washton and Joane Zweben. Guilford Press, NY. 2006, 312pp., 25. ISBN: 9781572300774 |url=https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article-abstract/42/2/161/123198?redirectedFrom=fulltext |journal=Alcohol and Alcoholism |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=161 |doi=10.1093/alcalc/agl108 |issn=0735-0414}}{{Cite book |last1=Washton |first1=Arnold M. |title=Treating alcohol and drug problems in psychotherapy practice: doing what works |last2=Zweben |first2=Joan E. |date=2023 |publisher=The Guilford Press |isbn=978-1-4625-5092-0 |edition=Second |location=New York}}

• Washton AM, Gold MS. (Eds.) (1987). Cocaine: A clinician’s handbook. New York: Guilford.
• Washton, AM. (1989). Cocaine addiction: treatment, recovery, and relapse prevention. New York: Norton Professional Books.
• Washton AM, Boundy D. (1989C). Cocaine and crack: What you need to know. Hillside, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers/
• Washton AM, Boundy D. (1990). Willpower’s not enough: Recovering from addictions of every kind. William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (September 26, 1990)
• Washton AM. Quitting cocaine. (1990). Center City, MN: Hazelden.
• Washton AM. Staying off cocaine. (1990). Center City, MN: Hazelden.
• Washton AM Maintaining recovery. (1990). Center City, MN: Hazelden.
• Washton AM, Stone-Washton, N. (1991). Step Zero: Getting to recovery. Center City, MN: Harper-Hazelden.
• Washton AM (Ed.). (1985). Psychotherapy and substance abuse: A practitioner’s handbook. New York:Guilford.
• Washton, AM. (2008). Quitting cocaine: your personal recovery plan. Center City, MN: Hazelden.
• Washton, AM, Zweben, JZ. (2009) .Cocaine and methamphetamine addiction: treatment, recovery, and relapse prevention. New York: Norton Professional Books.
• Washton, AM, Zweben, J.E. (2nd Edition, 2023). Treating Alcohol Drug Problems in Psychotherapy Practice Doing What Works New York, Guilford.

• Addiction psychology
• Harm reduction

{{reflist}}

• [https://recoveryoptions.us/ Recovery Options]
• [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/arnold-m-washton-phd Psychology Today Profile]
• [https://www.guilford.com/author/Arnold-M-Washton Guilford Press Author Profile]

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