How Prevention and Recovery Can Work Together

by Jodi Gilman | Sep 28, 2022 | Resources, Training & Classes

Fall is a busy time of year for the mental health and substance use recovery community. September is National Recovery Month, and October is Substance Abuse Prevention Month. Prevention and recovery are two important elements related to substance use disorders, and the resources and programs in each sector often work in tandem to build overall community resilience. Let’s explore how the Healthy365 Connection Center can connect you and your family with local resources to support the overall wellness of Hancock County.

What is recovery?

Recovery Month is an annual celebration of the strong and proud recovery community that takes place each September. This month also brings more awareness and support to new evidenced-based treatment and recovery practices that are being innovated, as well as honoring the dedication of family members, friends, service providers and community members who help make recovery possible for those affected by substance use disorders.

Treatment centers, outpatient services and dual-diagnosis programming can help bring people with substance use disorder to the successful management of their condition and long-term recovery. Many recovery programs incorporate peer-run engagement that allows those further along their journey to help those just starting out, and may also work to reduce stigma and negative attitudes toward those suffering from substance use disorders.

What is prevention?

As it relates to substance misuse, prevention is most often related to education about addictive substances like drugs and alcohol. During Substance Abuse Prevention Month in October, we also recall those who have lost their lives to substance use disorder or drug overdose. In doing so, we can recommit to promoting the local resources that can help prevent these devastating losses and bring healing to those communities affected.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), prevention strategies can also help “prevent or delay the use and misuse of substances, prevent suicide, promote mental health, mitigate problems among populations at risk for mental and substance use disorders, foster resilience, and prevent the onset among populations showing early signs and related problem behaviors.”

How can prevention and recovery work together?

Services for prevention and recovery both fall under the umbrella of mental and behavioral health, and often work together to build community resilience. Educational prevention programs and the recovery movement are each represented in the continuum of care for substance use disorders, and a number of people in the community touch them both, including clinical providers, prevention practitioners, representatives from the community and people with lived experience.

When advocating for better treatment services, it also makes sense to work with the community on improvements to prevention, and vice versa. As SAMHSA explains, “Scaling up the capacity and infrastructure of these programs will create strong resource networks to equip communities to support recovery for everyone.”

Healthy365 programming

The Healthy365 Connection Center provides a few different options for both prevention and recovery services. First is Rise Above It, an educational prevention program for ages 12+ to adults that addresses mental health and substance misuse in Hancock County. These free annual events provide attendees with the opportunity to open up about mental health and substance misuse in an environment with resources that are ready to help. Indiana has rising rates of addiction, substance abuse and use of nicotine products, but help is available. This year’s Rise Above It event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Eastern Hancock High School, and you can register online today.

Another service provided by the Healthy365 Connection Center is our CRAFT Support Group. This Family Support program is based on the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) model and is designed for family members and friends concerned about their loved ones who currently live with a substance use disorder. The ultimate goal of this 16-week curriculum is to help your loved one enter treatment services and engage in recovery, but it also addresses communication skills and your own self-care. The next CRAFT Support Group will meet each Thursday beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 3 and you can register or learn more online.

Are you ready to help support prevention and recovery programming right here in Hancock County? Contact Healthy365 today at 317-468-4231!

Reducing the Stigma Around Addiction and Substance Misuse

by Jodi Gilman | Feb 14, 2022 | Health & Wellness, Support Navigator

Do you or someone you love struggle with substance misuse? It’s okay to admit you need help. Addiction is one of the pressing health concerns in Hancock County, and our Healthy365 Support Navigators are here to offer a confidential listening ear and support without judgment.

What is substance misuse?

The American Psychiatric Association defines substance use disorder (SUD) as “a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences.” People with an SUD have such an intense focus on using a certain substance or substances that their day-to-day function is inhibited. When someone’s SUD becomes extremely severe, it is sometimes called an addiction.

Individuals with an SUD will likely develop distorted thinking and behaviors, and the actual structure and function of the brain are changed to cause intense cravings, changes in personality, altered decision making and more. And yet, in a 2018 study from the The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, just 53% of Americans surveyed see addiction as a medical problem.

How common is addiction?

According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health 40.3 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 28.3 million who had alcohol use disorder, 18.4 million who had an illicit drug use disorder, and 6.5 million people suffering from both. In the same AP-NORC survey from 2018, fewer than 1 in 5 Americans are willing to closely associate with someone suffering with drug addiction.

Learning more about substance misuse

In order to help someone you know struggling with substance misuse, one of the most effective things you can do is educate yourself. Be aware of the unconscious and conscious stigma that goes along with substance misuse.

If you are in the field of healthcare, it is especially important to leave your biases at the door and treat each patient fairly. Some providers see SUD as the fault of the person suffering, and some offices will even eject patients showing signs of intoxication or withdrawal for fear of their behavior or desire for prescription medication. If you do not work in healthcare, you can still advocate for fair treatment for those with SUD in healthcare settings and by educating yourself about the signs of addiction.

Knowing the signs of addition to show compassion

Identifying the signs of addiction in a loved one can allow you to show them compassion, talk about ways to alleviate their suffering and find solutions by partnering in the healing process. The most common signs of addiction include:

Loss of control; engaging in behavior more or for longer than intended
Neglecting family, friends, and other interests
Decreased attendance or performance at work or school
Risk-taking
Relationship and anger issues
Secrecy, including unexplained injuries or accidents
Changing appearance: especially a serious decrease in cleanliness or hygiene
Family history of addiction
Tolerance; getting less of a reaction from the same amount of a substance or behavior
Withdrawal; physical symptoms experienced when substances wear off
Continued use despite negative consequences

Additional signs of alcohol misuse can include blackouts or temporary memory loss, irritability, depression, or mood swings, unpleasant symptoms when one stops drinking: headache, anxiety, insomnia, or nausea, and drinking alone or in secret.

Ways to get help for substance misuse

If you notice the signs of addiction or alcohol misuse in yourself or others, organizations like Healthy365 can offer support and connections to treatment options. Most treatment approaches for substance misuse include three main phases: detoxification, counseling and aftercare support. The best treatment for you or your family member will vary depending on the specifics of the addiction and life situation.

A few of the program types available locally include residential, outpatient, dual-diagnosis centers for patients with mental health problems as well as addiction, as well as specific centers for teens or women. And for those family members being impacted by a loved one’s addiction, our CRAFT Support Group at Healthy365 can offer compassionate education and motivation.

If you need support for substance misuse in yourself or someone you know, contact a Healthy365 Support Navigator today at (317) 468- 4231 or visit the Connection Center at 120 W. McKenzie Rd., Suite G in Greenfield.

What is the CRAFT Support Group?

by Jodi Gilman | Jul 7, 2021 | Healthy365 News, Training & Classes

Do you love someone who struggles with drug or alcohol use? Healthy365 is offering a new CRAFT Support Group for families impacted by addiction. CRAFT uses evidence-based and compassionate education to motivate and support families and friends of those currently in addiction. The first FREE rolling 12-week session will begin Thursday, July 15 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Healthy365 Office in Greenfield.

What does CRAFT stand for?

Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is a highly effective 12-week workshop for family members or friends who have a loved one in addiction. CRAFT takes a compassionate approach to communication strategies and empowers you both to take care of your own well-being and to help your loved one in their journey to recovery. The CRAFT Support Group at Healthy365 is a free resource for local residents that includes a complimentary workbook with registration.

How do the sessions work?

This support group is for those 18 and older who wish to assist their loved ones in finding treatment for addiction. Note that space is limited, so pre-registration is required. Our first Healthy365 CRAFT Support Group will begin on July 15. Our 12-week sessions will operate indefinitely on a rolling basis and will be offered both in-person and via virtual Zoom meetings. You can join us every Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Healthy365 Connection Center at 120 W. McKenzie Rd., Suite G in Greenfield.

Our rolling session approach and virtual/in-person options mean that if you are on vacation one week but still wish to attend, you can do so virtually that week. Or if you have another engagement one evening and must miss the meeting entirely, you can attend that meeting during the next round of sessions. We want our attendees to feel comfortable jumping in at any time to get the help that they need in support of their loved ones.

What can I expect to learn?

Topics in our CRAFT Support Group will include a focus on family dynamics and identifying triggers and motivators in your loved one’s substance use, as well as effective methods and available resources to empower you to influence change and improve your quality of life. Taking care of yourself too is important for those with a loved one in addiction, and prioritizing self-care can impact your whole family positively. We’ll also work on developing positive communication techniques that can help your loved one where they are, as well as assisting them to enter treatment services and engage in recovery.

How is CRAFT different from other options?

The CRAFT program is an evidence-based system that seeks to help families change how they are interacting with loved ones actively struggling with substance use. The primary goal is to help get that person into treatment for recovery. However, CRAFT is unique in that it focuses not just on the individual in addiction, but on self-care for the family members as well, whether or not their loved one moves forward with treatment. Research shows that about 70% of families who go through CRAFT training are able to help their loved ones get into treatment within one year.

If you are interested in joining us on Thursdays for the CRAFT Support Group, you can register online today or call our office at 317-468-4231 to learn more.