Mike Couick
September is National Recovery Month, which recognizes the millions of Americans in treatment for substance abuse and encourages those struggling with addiction to seek professional help.
The truth is, addiction can be a hard thing for people to talk about, especially when it comes to their kids. With all that parents invest in their children’s health, safety and well-being, the idea that a child’s life can be so profoundly and negatively impacted by addiction is deeply unsettling.
Often, the stigma of addiction makes it hard for people to seek treatment and care, isolating those who are suffering when they most need a supportive community around them. In fact, several studies indicate that stigma is one of the main reasons people avoid treatment. A 2007 study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (NCASA) found that 37 percent of college students avoided seeking help for addiction because they feared social stigma.
Susan and Randy Rush, who have a 22-year-old son who is now two years sober, understand firsthand the importance of overcoming the stigma of addiction.
“At the beginning, we were ashamed,” says Susan. “But then we realized it was not a moral failing, and that helping our son with his addiction was no different than if he had a chronic condition like diabetes.”
After connecting with The Courage Center in Lexington, the Rush family learned to approach the issue as a team, she says. “We learned we had just as much recovery work to do as a family as he did.”
The Courage Center fills the gaps in the recovery process, offering peer-led recovery coaching and support, free of charge, for people ages 15–26. Additionally, The Courage Center offers community presentations on a variety of topics related to substance use and recovery, including the science of addiction, says Executive Director Adrienne Bellinger.
“We provide a safe space where participants can meet new people, have new places to go and have new things to do, as opposed to the people, places and things that were part of their lives when they were using drugs or alcohol,” she says. “Our participants may be at one end of the substance use disorder spectrum, having become addicted and gone through treatment and are now working to sustain long-term recovery. Or, our participants may not be ‘addicted,’ but there may be known or suspected use, and they simply need some guidance and support to keep from escalating to the point of addiction.”
Recovering from addiction is difficult for everyone, but teens face a unique set of challenges. Although drug use at any age can lead to addiction, research indicates that the earlier a person begins using drugs, the more likely the drugs are to change the brain itself, resulting in cravings and compulsive behavior. Young people need continued and stigma-free support from friends, family and therapists to decrease their chances of relapse and help them stay on a path to recovery.
“At the start of this journey, I didn’t understand addiction,” says Susan. “We were scared to death, but soon learned we were not alone. The Courage Center gave us an easier and gentler path into healing because they walk side by side with families dealing with this.”
To learn more about the services provided by The Courage Center or how you can help support their mission, visit couragecentersc.org.