I remember the moment exactly. It was the day after Thanksgiving 2022. I looked down at the glass in my hand and suddenly thought, “I can’t do this anymore.”
It had been years of heavy drinking, rationalizing, and concerning escalating behavior that was hurting me, my family, and my friends. Years of wondering why I couldn’t manage to “take control” of my drinking. Years of doubt and fear. I had tried sobriety a few times before, usually for a few weeks at a time. It never stuck. For whatever reason, that day in 2022 was the last straw. I made a decision to whole-heartedly pursue a path to recovery, with no idea how that path would unfold.
I was lucky to already work in public health. I knew how to find resources and information that could support my recovery journey. I read books, joined an online support group, and used some tracking apps. Now, I am nearly four years sober.
There were moments (especially early on in my sobriety) when I questioned whether recovery would “work” for me, whether I would be “successful.” It turns out that successful recovery means different things for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to pursue optimal health, especially if you don’t have tools readily available to you as I did. Sometimes recovery looks like continued occasional use of one of more substances while your mind and body explore new possibilities. Sometimes it means accessing medications to support sobriety or reduced use. Regardless, everyone deserves to choose the path that fits their needs.
SAMHSA describes recovery as a multi-layered process that involves a person’s “strengths, talents, coping abilities, resources, and inherent values” and must meet a person’s basic living needs (health, home, purpose, and community). In my case, my career history, comfort with technology, and access to evidence-based resources helped pave the way for a meaningful recovery. For others, supports like faith-based communities or medical providers may be a better fit.
I have learned so much about paths to recovery since joining the Opioid Response Network (ORN). While the substance I struggle with is alcohol, the use of opioids, stimulants, and other substances creates unique challenges that people must navigate to enjoy wellbeing.
Centering people in their own recovery can be incredibly empowering for those struggling from substance misuse. While that may look different depending on each person’s circumstances, providers and public health practitioners should equip themselves with a wide variety of options to offer individualized and unique recovery support. The ORN can link community members and organizations with the subject matter experts and the support they need to meet people where they are in recovery. Submit a request to learn more!
By respecting and championing for person-centered recovery, clinicians and public health providers can ensure that “success” reflects the values and goals of each individual.
Written by Emily Kane
Emily is public health provider who works as a Technology Transfer Specialist for the Opioid Response Network (ORN) in Region 3, where she provides coordination on ORN requests to provide training and technical assistance (TA) requests to strengthen prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts related to opioid and stimulant use disorders. In this role, she collaborates with state and local partners, healthcare providers, community organizations, and behavioral health professionals to translate evidence-based research into practical, actionable strategies in a multi-state area (District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). She supports communities in implementing sustainable solutions by coordinating subject matter experts, facilitating educational initiatives, and promoting best practices that improve outcomes for individuals and communities.