An Exercise in Providing Support to Preventing Relapse
In 2019 the recovery community was grieved by the death of two men who had been clean and sober for a significant length of time and had much to live for. The Highland County Quick Response Team wanted that grief to turn to something positive, so they created Adam's Hope. The objective is for all caregivers in a person's recovery to review what support may be needed. It has grown into communicating local recovery contact points on social media and Web platforms. The name Adam's Hope comes from the universality of the sobriety struggle, and the name of one of the two fatal overdose victims.
1. Positive, edifying friendships and associations
Verbatim: "When it comes to friendship questions I think that they need to have two perspectives with them. Some examples:
2. Accountability: A willingness to be held accountable, and supporting persons who will hold them accountable.
Verbatim: "It is very hard to speculate on the why, but I know part of the problem is friends and choices, along with struggling to deal with the past. More accountability is a big one also but the individual must be willing to be held accountable and also willing to talk when struggling. Another thing for those of us working in this field is the need for training and understanding of red flags. I don't believe that there is a one size fits all solution but these are a couple things we can work on." submitted by Kimble Zornes
3. Activities that provide a positive-self definition.
Verbatim: "It is said that recovery is a lifelong commitment. The individual needs to define herself or himself as something more than an addict in recovery. Positive esteem-building activities will supply that definition. They may include: householding; employment; membership in organizations that do charity work; friendship; parenting. These should be begun only when the individual is ready since each can generate stress." contributed by Creed Culbreath
4. Prevent employment burnout by a periodic realistic evaluations of a person's working capacity.
Verbatim: "Individuals may re-enter the workforce full-time without the readiness to handle workplace stress. Moreover, in a booming economy, employers may encourage excessive overtime, adding to stress at home as well as in the workplace." contributed by Creed Culbreath
5. Treat the whole person, body, mind, and spirit--not just the disease of addiction.
Moreover, the underlying causes of addiction like past trauma and chronic pain must be treated by trained and skilled specialists if there is to be long term success. contributed by Danielle Ratcliff
6. Prepare the addict in remission for "the voices in the head" that say things like:
"Just get high one more time; then you will be ready to handle recovery;" or "Wouldn't it be great to be high just one more time before you commit to the straight life?" contributed by Kimble Zornes and Mike Farrell
7. Have a designated therapist, peer counselor, or life coach: that can be called at any time in a crisis, and will supply the needed support. contributed by Beth Bullock
8. Family dynamic must be considered and addressed in treatment and support of recovery and sobriety.
Verbatim: "There are associations that the abuser could be in contact with before and after the decision for recovery and sober living. One of those is the family of the person who has abused substances. The family needs to walk the journey with the recovering addict. The dynamic of family's interaction cannot be discounted. If the addict believes that the family has a hands-off attitude toward the abuser and the addiction, then he or she is being undermined by the very people that possibly matter the most. It is understood that the family unit may be the main or a contributing factor as to why the abuser is using substances in the first place. It, then, should be an important part of the treatment and recovery program to determine what the family dynamic is, and offer to help them find support if it is needed or requested." Submitted by Len Parker
Verbatim: "When it comes to friendship questions I think that they need to have two perspectives with them. Some examples:
- Before your last relapse did you have associations with positive people in your life?
- Would other people count these as positive associations?
- Before your relapse were you hanging out with people that were NOT a positive influence for your daily activities and life goals?
- Would those that care most about you agree?
2. Accountability: A willingness to be held accountable, and supporting persons who will hold them accountable.
Verbatim: "It is very hard to speculate on the why, but I know part of the problem is friends and choices, along with struggling to deal with the past. More accountability is a big one also but the individual must be willing to be held accountable and also willing to talk when struggling. Another thing for those of us working in this field is the need for training and understanding of red flags. I don't believe that there is a one size fits all solution but these are a couple things we can work on." submitted by Kimble Zornes
3. Activities that provide a positive-self definition.
Verbatim: "It is said that recovery is a lifelong commitment. The individual needs to define herself or himself as something more than an addict in recovery. Positive esteem-building activities will supply that definition. They may include: householding; employment; membership in organizations that do charity work; friendship; parenting. These should be begun only when the individual is ready since each can generate stress." contributed by Creed Culbreath
4. Prevent employment burnout by a periodic realistic evaluations of a person's working capacity.
Verbatim: "Individuals may re-enter the workforce full-time without the readiness to handle workplace stress. Moreover, in a booming economy, employers may encourage excessive overtime, adding to stress at home as well as in the workplace." contributed by Creed Culbreath
5. Treat the whole person, body, mind, and spirit--not just the disease of addiction.
Moreover, the underlying causes of addiction like past trauma and chronic pain must be treated by trained and skilled specialists if there is to be long term success. contributed by Danielle Ratcliff
6. Prepare the addict in remission for "the voices in the head" that say things like:
"Just get high one more time; then you will be ready to handle recovery;" or "Wouldn't it be great to be high just one more time before you commit to the straight life?" contributed by Kimble Zornes and Mike Farrell
7. Have a designated therapist, peer counselor, or life coach: that can be called at any time in a crisis, and will supply the needed support. contributed by Beth Bullock
8. Family dynamic must be considered and addressed in treatment and support of recovery and sobriety.
Verbatim: "There are associations that the abuser could be in contact with before and after the decision for recovery and sober living. One of those is the family of the person who has abused substances. The family needs to walk the journey with the recovering addict. The dynamic of family's interaction cannot be discounted. If the addict believes that the family has a hands-off attitude toward the abuser and the addiction, then he or she is being undermined by the very people that possibly matter the most. It is understood that the family unit may be the main or a contributing factor as to why the abuser is using substances in the first place. It, then, should be an important part of the treatment and recovery program to determine what the family dynamic is, and offer to help them find support if it is needed or requested." Submitted by Len Parker
