A few weeks back, we mentioned how Google was helping to take a stand against addiction. They recently put together a recovery hub that uses their state-of-the-art technology to direct people to local treatment centers and disposal offices. To their credit, the web giant is continuing that momentum with a special Google Doodle that honors a leader in our field.
The Doodle profiles legendary addiction researcher Herbert Kleber (who we’ve profiled in our blogs before). A highly regarded psychiatrist, Kleber helped change America’s perception of drug and alcohol abuse; making major strides in de-stigmatizing dependencies.
Sadly, Kleber passed away in 2018; but his legacy most certainly lives on and we applaud Google for bringing him back to the forefront. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, Kleber worked for the U.S. Public Health Service and began researching addiction as a medical issue. He ultimately help develop the field of medical treatment for dependencies.
In total, Kleber published more than 250 papers on the topic and brought his findings all the way to White House. Towards the end of his career, Kleber even worked under President George H.W. Bush; serving as Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Kleber’s Doodle (like most of them) is subtle, but really drives a powerful point across. In it, he is seen advising a patient in a room set up as a psychiatry office. The patient is obviously distressed and in the corner of the drawing, you can actually see her evolve from a desperate addict into a healthy confident woman with her head held high.
Clicking the Doodle takes visitors to Google’s dedicated recovery hub, which emphasizes just how compassionate this team is in the fight against addiction.
You can see the actual Doodle itself below…
We are certainly hopeful that a move like this will lead to more Doodles and awareness plays tied towards recovery. And truth be told, the tactic worked. The day Kleber’s Doodle appeared, outlets like The Independent and Forbes brought his story back into the limelight.
The Forbes piece, perhaps, summed up Kleber best when profiling the Doodle. Known for his upbeat attitude and encouraging demeanor, the site memorialized Kleber with one of his most famous quotes.
“Of course I’m an optimist. I will always be an optimist,” Kleber said during psychiatry days. “How else do I work with addicts for 40 years?”
