Contributors

Adrienne Webster is a Licensed Addiction Counselor Candidate (LACC) in Bozeman, Montana. She received her B.A. in Media Arts from Montana State University and later completed her graduate studies in Addiction Counseling there as well. She works with clients individually and in group settings while completing her post-graduate, clinical supervision. Adrienne is committed to reducing the stigma that surrounds addiction and recognizes the complex emotional and environmental factors that contribute to substance use disorders and behavioral addictions. She is particularly interested in an integrated approach to treatment and recovery that encompasses nutrition, education, exercise, and community involvement.

Amanda Lautieri is a Senior Web Content Editor at American Addiction Centers and an addiction content expert for DrugAbuse.com. She holds a bachelor's degree and has reviewed thousands of medical articles on substance abuse and addiction.

The editorial staff of DrugAbuse.com is comprised of addiction content experts from American Addiction Centers. Our editors and medical reviewers have over a decade of cumulative experience in medical content editing and have reviewed thousands of pages for accuracy and relevance. Our reviewers consistently monitor the latest research from SAMHSA, NIDA, and other reputable sources to provide our readers the most accurate content on the web.

Anna Spooner has been a content and copywriter since 2011. She strives to make all of her writing approachable, easy to understand, and fun to read. After graduating college, Anna worked at an insurance company for 11 years. She maintained an insurance license, answered customer questions about insurance in dozens of states, and managed to stay sane all at the same time. Anna also writes about finance, business, and marketing.

Annas Boyer is a Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor and a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker in the state of Kansas and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the state of Massachusetts. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and a master’s in social work degree from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. She has worked in the field of substance misuse and treatment for more than 10 years. Annas has worked in private practice, outpatient, and residential treatment. She has worked as a clinician, a clinical supervisor and as the Executive Director of a residential treatment facility. Annas served as an adjunct professor at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare for 10 years and taught graduate level courses on substance use disorders and clinical practice. Annas is currently a Program Director in community mental health and contracts with substance abuse treatment programs in Kansas, providing clinical consultation. Annas also continues a small private practice in which she provides individual therapy and clinical supervision.

Dr. Autumn Rae Florimbio received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. During her clinical studies, Dr. Florimbio was trained in the treatment of substance use disorders and completed a rotation in the substance use disorders clinic at the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System. Prior to her doctoral training, she earned her master’s degree in psychology with a focus on substance use treatment. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, Dr. Florimbio conducts research focused on risk and protective factors related to the co-use of substances to inform intervention development. She is passionate about providing accurate information to reduce stigma around substance use and behavioral health.

Brittany Tackett is a transformational life coach, writer, and speaker in the mental health field. She holds a Master's in Psychology with specialization in Transformational Life Coaching and also has an International Certificate in Behavioral Studies.

Brittany's clients include young adults suffering from ADHD, entrepreneurs, and recovering addicts who seek support in accomplishing their goals.

Brittney Morse is a Reputation Management Coordinator for American Addiction Centers. Brittney is a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, with a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology and a master’s degree in psychology. Brittney has 5 years clinical experience working in the field of addiction, at all levels of care.

Camille Zalar earned her master's in health administration from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and her nursing degrees from Kent State University in Ashtabula, Ohio. She is a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) with over 20 years of experience working in behavioral, mental health, and addiction care. She’s an advocate for patients and families seeking treatment services and has dedicated much of her work toward raising awareness around barriers to comprehensive treatment in the United States. Camille has presented addiction treatment initiatives to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health and the U.S. Surgeon’s General on behalf of the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium. She has led multiple education projects as a subject matter expert in developing substance use disorder education for Ohio nurses. She serves on the board of directors for the Addictions Nursing Certification Board for U.S. and Canada, and the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services board. In 2020, Camille was named a Fellow of the International Academy of Addictions Nursing, exemplifying excellence in nursing practice, research, administration, and education in addictions nursing.

Cassandra Keuma is a Licensed Practical Counselor Candidate. She has her Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health and is also a 500 hour certified Yoga Therapist. Her clinical experience includes youth corrections where she worked with both the general population and the sex offender population, inpatient psychiatric care where she worked with clients with varying degrees of mental illness and those who had attempted suicide, and residential treatment where she worked as a group and individual therapist with clients dealing with addiction to substances. She is currently working with the University of Utah conducting research on the benefits of mindfulness in treating those with chronic pain while also focusing on reducing their reliance upon highly addictive opiates.