There is a wide range of substance recovery programs designed for people recovering from drugs and substance abuse to guide others who are trying to sustain their recovery from substance use disorders. They are recovery navigators who understand the journey of healing but are not sponsors or counselors. People like this provide mentoring and support to their peers in recovery. Members hope that sobriety is possible by assisting and encouraging others to find their pathway to wellness. Participants offer their services alongside experienced professionals such as counselors to gain valuable skills and knowledge on a wide range of recovery support programs.
If you have a loved one struggling with addiction and do not know where to begin, you can check out My Recovery Corps to get in touch with people in these programs. Those involved in a recovery program may participate in community outreach to transform the communities with hope and mutual support to enhance long-term recovery. Members connect with individuals through hospital-based care, service site placement, and family support programs.
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Recovery awareness and support programs have the following benefits;
- Extensive training and rich experience in recovery support services
- Valuable professional mentorship as a result of consistent interactions with experienced personnel in the field of addiction
- Certifications at the end of service including mental health, first aid, and peer specialist
With the increase of popularity in seeking recovery, there is no single definition of what recovery means. The first reason for this is that treatment services are expected to bring about recovery. The treatment goal must be clearly and expressly defined, and there must be an agreement among the stakeholders such as the general public, policymakers, funding sources, and clients of services. Lack of a clear definition of recovery hinders the medical practice and creates many variations in addiction treatment’s reported results.
The second aspect regarding the definition of recovery is that substance abuse is highly stigmatized and publicized among communities. Stigma results in discrimination that discourages efforts of personal growth and development, such as securing employment. The face of individuals in recovery is often that of dysfunction and lack of decision-making ability. Terms such as dependence and addiction are taken to mean lack of self-control. A critical way of overcoming stigma is spreading the message that recovery is realistic and possible. This gives hope to affected persons and their families. It can also inform the public and provide realistic goals for the stakeholders.
The public perceptions of recovery examine the general interpretation of alcohol and drug abuse. Research has confirmed that most people know someone who is in recovery from addiction. Their definition of recovery is trying to stop using drugs and believe that complete recovery is impossible. Few members of the public believe that their loved ones will fully recover from addictive behaviour. The public perceives addiction as something difficult to overcome and requires several attempts and treatment options. The rising view of addiction as a chronic disease has dramatically changed the stereotype view as a wrong choice or moral decay.
Social media is a significant source of information for many topics, including drugs and substance abuse. The media can therefore facilitate the public view of addiction and recovery. Creating awareness on recovery options can reduce multiple relapses. The recovery community has the most significant stake in informing the public on addiction issues and toning down the existing misconceptions. Recovery awareness has increased in recent with the growth of the community and grass-root organizations of recovery. Websites offer a wide range of information regarding recovery resources, the recovery community, events, and advocacy programs that greatly benefit the public.
