A Shoulder To Lean On: Be a Recovery Ally

The Language of Recovery

When someone you love is recovering from this disease you hear them speak another language. Trust me when I first heard my son speak I knew he was speaking recovery. It was a language unknown to us because we had never heard him speak like that before. It is a language that comes from within the heart of those on the road to recovery. Keep up the good work son.

Supporting Recovery During the Holidays

The holidays are hard on a lot of people. They are especially hard on those who are suffering from addictions. The holidays can also be stressful on those of us who love an addict because we know how quickly their addiction can escalate.

This is also a time that we are reminded of triggers on our loved ones living in recovery. Discuss this with your loved one in Recovery. Let them know you are available to talk at any time. Have a plan and a back up plan in place.

Because of the holidays upon us and because I only want my son to continue on his road to recovery I just recently asked my son if I was a trigger to him mainly because in his early years of using and abusing Heroin I was his biggest enabler. Being an enabler can also mean that you are a trigger. As and enabler you are an easy way for them to score some cash to get the drug if they have fallen and slipped in their recovery. As an enabler you are easily entangled in the web of lies. I needed to know. It would have hurt me if he said yes, but I would have had to understand.

"Holidays can be stressful for anyone, particularly for those in recovery. Besides the temptations to party hearty that seem to be everywhere, there are also the feelings of depression and being left out to contend with. Don’t let the holidays get you down or cause you to slip. Here are some tips to support recovery during the holidays...."

Read More>>>>>>>>> @ Tips To Support Recovery During the Holidays

The Footwork of Recovery

Relapse Prevention: Early Warning Signs and Maintaining Sobriety

For those new in recovery and for those recovering it is important to understand the early warning signs of relapse to prevent it as well as the coping skills needed in order to maintain sobriety.

Read More @>>>>>>>>>>> Relapse Prevention: Have a Plan In Place

video from: youtube

Recovery Does Not Mean

September is National Recovery Month.

If you are currently using and want help OR if you are seeking treatment for a loved one,

 please contact

pic: shared on Facebook
Information Help4WV

Choose Recovery....

September is National Recovery Month.

For those in Recovery and living life sober...

September Is National Recovery Month

September is about two weeks away now. I know everyone on this side of the addiction and epidemic are sporting purple right now. Purple Ribbons on the lapel, Purple Ribbons of remembrance on Facebook for those who lost their battle with addiction. Many Facebook pages and webpages reminding that

Addiction and Recovery Advice

Dear Recovering Addict

pic shared on Facebook

Hold Fast...

The Twelve Step Poem....

Pic shared with me on Facebook

White House Press Release: Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act 2016

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2016
...

Statement by the President on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016
Today, I signed S.524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 into law. This legislation includes some modest steps to address the opioid epidemic. Given the scope of this crisis, some action is better than none.

However, I am deeply disappointed that Republicans failed to provide any real resources for those seeking addiction treatment to get the care that they need. In fact, they blocked efforts by Democrats to include $920 million in treatment funding.

Every day, 78 Americans die from opioid overdoses. I have heard from too many families across the country whose lives have been shattered by this epidemic, including a mom from Ohio who recently wrote: "There are not near enough facilities in this area to handle the amount of care that is needed... We need help."

My Administration has been doing everything we can to increase access to treatment, and I'm going to continue fighting to secure the funding families desperately need. In recent days, the law enforcement community, advocates, physicians, and elected officials from both sides of the aisle have also joined in this call. Now, it's up to Republicans to finish the job and provide adequate funding to deal with this public health crisis.


Provided By: Dee Stotlemyer, President of the WV Chapter of Bikers Against Heroin

New Facebook Group: Inmate 101

There is a new Facebook Group, Inmate 101. This page is for an anonymous inmate to share the story of addiction in hopes to lead others to a path of recovery.

If interested you can join this Facebook Group @ Inmate 101

In WV: Felons and Jobs

One problem we have here locally and throughout this state is that for so many years those who are addicted to drugs have been criminalized for having a substance abuse problem.

Once a person gets clean and they are trying to put their lives back together there is a problem obtaining a gainful job that will support them and often their family. Many places do not or will not hire a felon.

Some states limit employer criminal records. Here in West Virginia we do not have a law that limits employer use of criminal records.

Now there are federal laws that protect from employment discrimination many times this doesn't apply to those who have a record.

The website, Nolo writes:

Some states require employers to consider whether the offense bears a reasonable relationship to the job. Some states have passed laws restricting how employers may use an applicant’s criminal record in making job decisions. And, some states prohibit employers from asking about arrest records.

Two federal laws provide limited protection to applicants with criminal records....

Read More>>>>>> Employer Use of Arrest and Conviction Records in West Virginia

Information for this post from NOLO

In Recovery?

Identifying Relapse

With our son five hours away in Huntington, WV right now I am trying to arm myself with information.

In just the first week we experienced the slippery slopes. The ups and downs after detox. This is a scary time for those of us who love an addict. I've tried identifying triggers as a way to help in positive ways.

This is the relapse process. We all know that relapse happens. While I don't understand it fully I have been assured that relapse is normal in the recovery process.

This says that relapse is preventable and that knowledge is power. If you have a loved one recovering pay attention to these signs in your loved one.

Out Of The Ashes....

Have you ever heard the Legend of the Phoenix? How this bird continues to live forever? It flies too close to the sun, it is burned and it rises up through the ashes?

The Story of The Phoenix represents everything new again...

"A mythical bird that never dies, the phoenix flies far ahead to the front, always scanning the landscape and distant space. It represents our capacity for vision, for collecting sensory information about our environment and the events unfolding within it. The phoenix, with its great beauty, creates intense excitement and deathless inspiration." - The Feng Shui Handbook, feng shui Master Lam Kam Chuen

The Story of the Phoenix

Transformation... Celebrate Recovery

Walking away from yesterday is often the bravest thing you can do.

Sunday was the day our son stood on the solid foundation in which he would start to rebuild his life once more.

What a transformation in just a week...

He has been speaking of the butterflies. Butterflies is a sign of transformation. Butterflies don't crawl around the ground as a caterpillar. They lie in a cocoon until the day comes that they emerge a new life and with wings fly away...

Recovery from this disease is much like that.

Go ahead!!! Celebrate this milestone in Recovery!!! Celebrate the Transformation. You are a new person!!!!

Eleanor Roosevelt wrote,

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I have lived through this horror. I can face the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

Newness of Life

To those needing help with addiction and treatment, please reach out to Justin Ponton at The Newness of Life in Huntington, West Virginia

Justin has a great program going on down in the sourthern part of the state. This is a treatment and recovery house. This is a long term program. Eight to ten months to graduate; more time if needed.

At first you may not feel like this is for you, but you'll be glad you went.

You can reach Justin any time day or night at 304-972-6601

The Newness of Life is located:

2210 9th Ave

Huntington, WV 25703

They're on Facebook @ Newness of Life

You can read the reviews at

The Newness of Life Reviews

For Those In Recovery...