the science of addiction and recovery

I gotta feel you in my bones again,

I'm all over you.

I'm not over you.

I wanna taste you one more time again,

I'm all over you.

I'm not over you.

This life is way too short

to get caught up and all mixed up

when I just want you to love me back,

why can't you just love me back?

i am off to CEDARs to attend a 6 hour workshop on "the science of addicton and recovery" which is sponsored by Faces and Voices of Recovery and Advocates For Recovery. below is the description of the training from the FAVOR website. it's a "train the trainer" curriculum, so my intention is to learn to help develop a module to deliver to others and expand the understanding of the importance and the miracle (and some nuts and bolts) of recovery and how they work. it seems that so many people don't know much beyond the frustrating (and painful) parts and would rather not discuss it.

last night i picked up Flo Hilliard who will be delivering the training today. the skies and sunset were spectacular as drove her from the DIA circus tent to her hotel. it was almost as if we were watching some computer-generated cinematogrophy unfold. part of me wondered if this was an overview of the activity we would be engaging in with her. ps- my photo captures only a fraction of the grandeur that dominated last evening's sky.

have a fantastic weekend..!!

from Faces And Voices Of Recovery

About the Training



The Science of Addiction and Recovery is a 6 six-hour “train the trainer” training for people in long-term recovery, their families, friends and allies.
6 Professional Development Hours are available for this training!


Join us for this training to:
Learn about the science of addiction and recovery
Practice teaching others what you have learned
Sharpen your skills as a recovery communicator, then take home new tools that you can use with your family, friends and community
You will receive three hours of education on the science of addiction and recovery in very easy to understand language and three hours of training on how to deliver the information to others.


An important part of this event is learning how to deliver this training in your community. We encourage you to come in pairs so that you have a buddy to conduct trainings with in the future. If you are not able to sign up with a buddy we will be happy to match you up with someone during the training. There is a space available on the registration form to tell us who you would like to pair up with.


Science of Addiction and Recovery Trainer:
Florence (Flo) Hilliard

love, love, love this version...

recovery at the capital 2010-MOVED TO FRIDAY MAY 21

LET"S GET THE WORD OUT EVERYBODY!!!! DATE MOVED TO FRIDAY MAY 21 DUE TO EXPECTED RAINS

3rd Annual
RECOVERY AT THE CAPITOL 2010


FRIDAY MAY 21 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
"FREE" booth for your Organization!

Surrounded by Recovery - Colorado (SBR) is a group of individuals in long-term recovery from substance abuse committed to spread the word that recovery is possible and does happen. As people in recovery we all have firsthand knowledge of how difficult the first step can be.
To encourage others and spread the word about recovery, SBR is hosting the third annual “Recovery at the Capitol 2010” event. On the West steps of the Colorado State Capital on Friday May, 21, 2010, between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., we will have speakers and informational booths from agencies within the state that provide services or support for those in recovery. Box lunches will also be provided by Cindy Lynn Café to the first 500 people that request ticket for the lunch

To embody the power of recovery, the demonstrators will surround the capital hand in hand. There will be an open space in the chain. This gap serves as a reminder that there are those who have died from substance abuse and to symbolize that there is an open door to recovery for anyone who still suffers.

If you are a recovery friendly company or a provider of recovery services, either support or treatment and would like a free booth, I need to hear from you ASAP! Space is filling up fast; first come first served on spaces available. The deadline to RSVP is May 12, 2010.

If you are a treatment center from out of State no worries you can have FREE space too, just give me a call @ 303-882-2172 and I will give you all the info you need to get your materials to the rally. This is a global issue and we don't want anyone to miss out as we hope to build chapters of SBR in every State with our focus on a yearly rally where we will find ourselves in Washington D.C. and March from the White House to the U.S. State Capital. For those that have attended the Colorado SBR events and felt the power of being hand in hand around our State Capital. Imagine surrounding the U.S. Capital. IT WILL HAPPEN!!

Thank you for all that you do for our community to promote and support recovery. Together we are the miracle. To obtain further information and reserve a space, please contact me at 303.882.2172 or go to www.surroundedbyrecovery.org . We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Mark Wonder
Outreach Coordinator
P.O. BOX 16523
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 882-2172 Direct
mark.wonder@surroundedbyrecovery.org
www.surroundedbyrecovery.org

Anything worth having is worth working for!

recovery at the capital 2010

Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm

Location: Colorado State Capitol (West Steps)

LET"S GET THE WORD OUT EVERYBODY!!!!

It's that time again to join Surrounded by Recovery - Colorado as we host the 3rd annual Recovery at the Capitol 2010. On Wed. May 19th, 2010 from 10:30am to 1:30pm on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol. More information to follow, so come on back and check out where we're at.

ACTION ALERT!!!! SBR needs your help as we plan for this year's rally. We need volunteers to commit to helping us on May 19th, but we also need your help now as we plan this event. So now is the time to tell us what you want at your rally, and don't think your suggestion may be too off the wall we want to hear what you have to say! All suggestions will be addressed by SBR board members.

SBR is also trying something new this year; we want to supply box lunches for the attendees of this rally so we are asking for your support. All we are asking for is a donation from you of only $5 Bucks, that's it!! This will help offset the cost for these wonderful lunches provided by Cindy Lynn Cafe. Donations can be made by dropping a check in the mail made out to: Surrounded by Recovery, and in the memo line at bottom left put ("Box Lunch Drive"). Addressed to PO Box 16523 Denver, CO 80216. For other ways to make donation please call Mark Wonder 303 882-2172 or Julie Jacks 303 618-5752. Please help if you can, TOGETHER WE ARE THE MIRACLE!!

today's sound choice is a collaborative effort from mary j blige, jean wyclef, brandy, baby face and others. originally used to bring effort towards the unbelievably huge lack of young voters. here is "wake up everybody". we've all got lots of  work to do..

advocates for recovery

http://www.advocatesforrecovery.org/

Denver_LIW_March2010 (Advocates for Recovery)

talking recovery

wednesday may 20, 2009 is "recovery at the capital" . it is a rally at the state capital to raise awareness of the miracle of recovery and the many people it touches.

some friends of mine are on the organizing committee and have asked me to speak. not sure what to say,(and having torn up several versions) i have settled upon the following. it is based entirely on crowd interaction, so i hope it goes well. luckily, my friends are hams, so they can pull any disaster out of the toilet.

there is a tag line this year which is " with recovery- everybody wins- the individual, the family, the workplace, the community....

Wow! My name is Rod Rushing and I am humbly and gratefully living in long term recovery. What a beautiful day! And how amazing you all look!! Recovery has indeed been a miracle in my life. You know, I have heard that "with recovery- everybody wins".. The individual wins..... hmmmm i wonder... How many people here are living in long term recovery.... ???? Do you feel like you're winning??? seems like a good fit...

The family wins..... How many of you are family members of someone living in recovery???? Would you agree that the family wins with recovery????

Next is the workplace.... Are there people with us today that work with someone that lives in recovery??? Are they good to work with???? Are they sometimes even over-achiever's???? Would you say it's a win????

Finally we have our community... The family, the street where we live, the neighborhoods, the cities, the suburbs, the rural communities, the treatment community, the LGBTQ community, the HIV community, the 12 step community, the spiritual community, the law enforcement and drug court community, the family services community, the healthcare community, the taxpayer community, the mental health community..... all these and the rest of our larger Colorado community win when recovery is there.

There is a national recovery advocate organization based out of Washington which is called FAVOR. This stands for Faces And Voices Of Recovery. They work diligently on a national level to raise awareness and identity of the miracle of recovery to state and federal lawmakers and policymakers whenever possible. They were even responsible for the introduction of the very first "recovery rooms" at a national political convention. These recovery rooms debuted right here in Colorado last August with the amazing Democratic Convention. Many of you volunteered and participated in this ground breaking event.

Additionally, here in Colorado, we are blessed to have 2 organizations doing recovery advocacy right in our midst. Advocates For Recovery and Surrounded By Recovery have been diligently making recovery more visible and viable to our local lawmakers, policymakers, and our citizens. the work in tandem with FAVOR and "we" are part of a national movement. And we need you to get involved. Sign up on the mailing lists... Volunteer to help to outreach or an event. Make this movement become stronger..September is National Recovery Month. Get a team together and join the Recovery Walk down the 16th Street Mall, raise awareness, and raise some funds to help build the 1st peer-led recovery center for our state.

As President Obama has stated: "The War On Drugs has failed"--- might I add fairly miserably.... LESS INCARCERATION.... MORE RECOVERY.... Maybe we could advocate visibly and vocally for recovery instead....

I know recovery works.... We know recovery works......Our families believe recovery works..... our workplaces and human resource departments can testify that recovery works... and hopefully our communities, our cities, and our state will embrace the idea that recovery works.....

With Recovery...... Everybody WINS!!!!

wish me luck..

today's sound has a spirit... bob dylan and joan baez with "blowin in the wind"

a force against darkness

tonya wheeler- advocates for recovery colorado

Are you gone and onto someone new?
I needed somewhere to hang my head
Without your noose
You gave me something that I didn't have
But had no use
I was too weak to give in
Too strong to lose
My heart is under arrest again
But I break loose
My head is giving me life or death
But I can't choose
I swear I'll never give in
I refuse

there has been a gentleman who has been going from state to state and developing a made for tv special geared toward that particular state's crystal meth problem. he pitches the idea, gets the state and big city governments and politicians to endorse it, along with law enforcement and treatment provider communities. it is aired. he collects a hefty sum of money for the endeavor and hopefully the consciousness of that state is raised sufficiently to justify the expenditure.

this has happened within colorado and the show titled "crystal darkness" aired last night on most of the major channels in colorado. radio and tv spots have been running for over 2 weeks promoting the televising, and i am anxious to hear how the ratings were.

my understanding is that typically, the focus is on the horrors of meth, i.e. meth mouth, huge increase in violent crime and identity theft, sexual abuse of minors, and environmental pollution of meth labs. but the twist for the colorado piece was the ending involved a very strong and positive messaging around recovery. statements like meth addicts in recovery make fantastic employees, parents, and citizens, if we are given the opportunity. recovery works. and the other message that i thoroughly enjoyed was an invitation to colorado to become part of the solution- said in just those words.

the woman responsible for the pro-recovery statements is a colleague of mine and i sit on the board of advocates for recovery with her. i so admire her hammering an idea home like that. it reads as responsible leadership to me. now some of her friends joke and call her a "media whore" which may or may not apply, but i prefer to think of her as a force.

frankly, i don't know if one tv piece is going to change much, although i cannot say it won't either. i do know that i am happy that the "recovery happens' message is one that makes my heart skip a beat. i'm beaming inside.

recovery happens is a credo i try to live by. just take a look at my blogroll. look in your own neighborhood. you'll find it. recovery works. make room for it in your life.


today's sound choice is stereophonic doing foo fighter's "best of you"

motivational interviewing

You had me several years ago
When I was still quite naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee....
Carly Simon

i attended media training for "advocates for recovery" yesterday. there is a crystal meth news program for tv that is currently being filmed in many states across the country. the program is called crystal darkness and is coming to colorado to be filmed later this month. as is normal with most issues and the media, it's the dark side that gets highlighted. reporters almost always want to hear about the horrors of things, and there is no exception with meth use. it is normal for journalists to be curious about the horrors, the abuse of children, the spread of hiv, the upsurge in meth-use related crimes, the ravages of meth labs.

but our job as advocates for recovery, is to take the spotlight off the problem and start to shine it on the solution. after all, people do recover from meth use. injection drug users do stop, and their lives get better. they become better citizens, better family members, and better individuals. this is the message i prefer to send to family members of meth addicts throughout colorado. i would much prefer to promote hope, because there is hope. we are even discussing developing a series of posters entitled "faces of recovery", because it doesn't take long for someone to start looking healthy again.

this is the desired outcome, isn't it?

believe

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! Maya Angelou

today is the day for the recovery rally. i don't know what to expect really. i spoke at this rally 3 years ago, when i was first getting clean. i remember addressing a crowd of 200 or so and feeling as if i were whispering. this year, i don't believe i am speaking. i am soliciting volunteers to start a committee.

it's another late summer day outside at a festival. one of the last days this year to be celebrating outdoors. i will be celebrating recovery. and hopefully i will be mentoring healthy recovery for others who may need it.

do you know much about recovery? do you believe it happens? do you believe in life after meth? i know what my answer is.

somethin to talk about

september is national recovery month and all across the land, cities and townspeople will be gathering in small numbers to support the idea of recovery. for way too long, the problems of addiction, alcoholism, and the drug wars have hogged the spotlight in our hearts and minds.

all the while, the cool fresh breeze of recovery has been wafting in and out of our lives with hardly the bat of an eyelash. but now it seems appropriate (at least to me) that focus shifts from the problem to the solution, however that looks to you.

what i know is that recovery happens. people recover. lives are restored. addictions wane, folks return to work. laughter and smiles come back to broken households and families. bills get paid. mortgages get attended to. new homes get purchased. volunteerism flourishes.

i wholeheartedly encourage each and every one of you to look into advocating for recovery in your areas. work not only with other addicts, but work with those affected by our issues too. employers, hr departments, police departments, city officials.

recovery is good business.

here is the organization i am proud to be associated with here in denver.

Every year, towns, counties, and states around the country observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) in September. This year, the 19th annual Recovery Month recognizes the impact that real people and real stories have on recovery, and celebrates those who have worked to advance the treatment and recovery landscape.

In 2008, we are highlighting the people for whom treatment and long-term recovery have given a renewed outlook on life. We invite you to take part in our theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery," and spread the word that addiction is a medical illness and that treatment is effective and recovery is possible. By getting involved, you can help more people on a path of recovery to lead more fulfilling lives. read the rest of "recovery month toolkit" here

ooh child

i feel like shouting from the rooftops. but i guess i will simply declare that having become affiliated with AfR has been an uplifting experience. the opportunities that are presenting themselves to me are amazing. i am in awe of the experience of working on the wellness resource room for the convention here in denver. although, all i really did was organize and schedule about 20 volunteers, it does make my heart smile to be part of what i really hope becomes the first step in a major shift in american policy towards recovery and wellness.

imagine being at a huge political event such as a dnc, in a city you don't know, and the stress and the presence of major cocktail parties all day and all night finds you feeling triggered, or full of anxiety. but wait... all you have to do is find the wellness resource people and they can direct you to a group, or an organization, or a private practictioner. your experience can change almost in lightning speed. crisis averted.

yes addiction is a huge problem. but people recover. they recover every day and we might do better to hold on to that agreement field. we might encourage others to recover because recovery is a miracle. addiction ain't no big thing, not when it compares to the miracles that the healing brings. i strongly hope that this signals a shift in priorities in america. a turn toward investing our time and attention in some victors in this struggle. those who have come through the dark and try to live in the light.

this press release came across my desk today.

For Immediate Release Contact: Michelle Dell
August 23, 2008 mdell@stargroup1.com
Office: 215-875-4387
Cell: 267-909-4003

Joanna Ford
jford@stargroup1.com
Office: 215-875-4362
Cell: 215-534-5373

Whole Health Campaign Names 2008 Democratic National Convention the Most “Recovery Friendly” Convention in History
First-Ever Wellness Room Will Be Available at Denver Convention

Denver, CO – For the first time in the history of America’s national party conventions, a Wellness Room will provide peer-support meetings and other recovery support to delegates, guests, and staff at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. The room will be staffed by volunteers from the Whole Health Campaign (WHC), an unprecedented collaborative of more than 70 mental illness and addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery organizations that seek to make mental illness and addiction issues a priority for both presidential candidates and their parties.

The WHC will also host the first Recovery Caucus meeting in Democratic Party history on August 25 at 10am in Room 405 of the Convention Center. The open Caucus will highlight the party platform’s commitments to addressing addiction and mental disorders.

The WHC praised Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) for his leadership in securing the space at the Convention and his understanding of the importance of providing recovery resources to delegates and guests. “Addiction and mental illness touches nearly every American family, and these issues must be at the forefront of our national healthcare debate,” said Kennedy, who will be speaking at the Recovery Caucus breakfast and is an outspoken advocate for treatment and recovery. “The Wellness Room and Recovery Caucus meeting in Denver reflect the growing consensus on the Democratic side that mental health and addiction demand our immediate attention.”

The 2008 Democratic Party Platform refers to mental health and addiction issues more than any previous platform and includes the goals of ending discriminatory insurance restrictions on those who need treatment, providing expanded health care for veterans, encouraging treatment as an alternative to incarceration for drug related crimes and prioritizing the prevention of chronic diseases such as substance use and mental disorders.

The WHC is working on behalf of more than 84 million Americans with a mental health or addictive disorder to ensure that all public and private health plans provide adequate mental health and addiction treatment coverage. Likewise, the WHC supports policies that promote mental health and addiction recovery as integral to overall health and endorses research, prevention, early intervention, and treatment as an investment in America’s future.

“We are pleased that policymakers are celebrating recovery and supporting it through the Wellness Room, Recovery Caucus, and changes in the party platform,” said Dr.
Eric Goplerud, Director of the Center for Integrated Behavioral Health Policy at George Washington University and an active member of the WHC. “The economic costs of substance use and mental disorders are measured in hundreds of billions of dollars each year.”

There will be Wellness Rooms in both the Colorado Convention Center and the Pepsi Center. They will be open August 25 - 28, with regularly scheduled 12-step and recovery support meetings. “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide a space for convention-goers in recovery from addiction or mental illness,” said Tom Coderre of Faces & Voices of Recovery, one of the event sponsors. “The regularly-scheduled 12-step and recovery-support meetings are open to everyone at the convention.”

The room is sponsored by Caron Treatment Centers, the Betty Ford Center, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, ASAM - American Society of Addiction Medicine, Faces & Voices of Recovery, the Denver Office of Drug Strategy, Advocates for Recovery Colorado, the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Colorado, Mental Health America, and NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals.

The WHC has offered to make a similar Wellness Room available at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

On-site media inquiries will be handled at a designated media table outside the Wellness Room in order to respect the confidentiality of those using the Wellness Rooms.

About the Whole Health Campaign

The Whole Health Campaign calls on Presidential candidates and political parties to adopt three principles:

• Ensure equitable and adequate mental health and addiction treatment coverage in all public and private health care plans

• Support policies that promote individual and family recovery from mental illness and addictions as integral to overall health

• Commit to investing in America’s future through prevention, early intervention and research on mental illness and addictions

The campaign is comprised of more than 70 mental health and addiction organizations. For a complete list of organizations supporting the WHC or for more information, visit http://wholehealthcampaign.org.

safe harbor project

as i have mentioned before, i joined the board of "advocates for recovery", a colorado organization which works toward furthering the rights of persons in recovery, removing the stigma of addiction and recovery, and also to begin to provide recovery support to persons looking to recover in their own lives.

i believe we have secured a room near the DNC for delegates and visitors who may be in recovery from addiction or mental illness. here is a letter which is a statement of purpose. i am happy to be a part of this effort.

Faces & Voices of Recovery
Democratic & Republican Conventions
Safe Harbor Project

We have made proposals to both the Democratic and Republican parties to host recovery rooms at their conventions for delegates and guests who are in recovery from addiction and mental illness. One’s personal recovery can be challenging to maintain at a convention. The party atmosphere, availability of alcohol and stress at conventions can pose a significant risk to those who have chosen a recovery lifestyle. Supporting a recovery room which can be used as a resource for those maintaining their recovery from addiction and mental illness makes sense and is the responsible thing for political parties to do.

The recovery room should be inside the convention facility and is typically a suite but could be setup pretty much anywhere where there is privacy. It would be used for the following purposes:

• Holding “12 Step” type meetings at scheduled times
• Connecting with others who are in recovery to create a recovery support network
• Offering assistance with recovery resources outside the convention venues
• Making recovery literature available to convention delegates and guests
• Providing refreshments and quiet space away from non-recovery related activities

We are asking that the rooms be made available at no cost and we would take on the task of staffing these rooms with volunteers and providing hospitality needs. In addition to getting space from the convention, we would of course need to have access passes (credentials) to the convention for our volunteers who are staffing the room.

The project is patterned after a similar scheme – the GRAMMY Safe Harbor Room – now in its 12th year. It has the wholehearted support and endorsement of Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN). They have reached out to Chairman Dean and Chairman Duncan respectively.

For more information contact:

TOM CODERRE
National Field Director, Faces & Voices of Recovery
1010 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC 20005
401.441.8632 cell / 208.439.1104 fax
tomcoderre@yahoo.com
www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org

this is a new song from a band called carolina liar. i like the riff. it makes me smile.

i'm on fire

recovery happens

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill

since my becoming involved with advocates for recovery, i have found that there really are advocates for recovery around this country who are actively and intelligently working towards change around laws and opportunities for people in recovery. thousands of them.

one of the most diligent i would say, is an organization called favor- faces and voices of recovery. they are definitely behind the national recovery month and the legion of recovery rallies earmarked for september 20th. there might be one in your city or a city near you. and i encourage you to consider getting involved. it's my experience that almost everyone knows someone who has a serious drug or alcohol problem. probably more than one. and when we as a society can discuss and encourage recovery intelligently, perhaps more people will choose this option long before they shred their lives to bits.

here is the latest publication from favor which resonates deeply with me. i would love to hear your feedback. it is titled the recovery bill of rights and is aimed for lawmakers and loved ones across the land.

We can safeguard hope and improve the lives of millions of Americans, their families, and communities if we treat addiction to alcohol and other
drugs as the public health crisis that it is. To overcome this crisis, we must accord dignity to people with addiction and recognize that there is no one path to recovery. Individuals can recover on their own or with the help of others. Effective aid can be rendered by mutual support groups or health care professionals.

Recovery can begin in a doctor’s office, treatment center, church, prison, peer support meeting or in one’s own home. The journey can be guided by religious faith, spiritual experiences or secular teachings. Recovery happens every day across our country and there are effective solutions for people still struggling. Whatever the route, it will be far easier to travel if people seeking recovery can enjoy respect for their basic rights:

1. We have the right to be viewed as capable of
changing, growing, and becoming positively connected to
our community, no matter what we did in the past because of our addiction.

2. We have the right—as do our families and friends —to know about the many pathways to recovery, the nature of addiction and the barriers to long-term recovery, all conveyed in ways that we can understand.

3. We have the right, whether seeking recovery in the community, a physician’s office, treatment center, or while incarcerated, to set our own recovery goals, working with a personalized recovery plan that we have designed based on accurate and understandable information about our health status, including a comprehensive,
holistic assessment.

4. We have the right to select services that build on our strengths, armed with full information about the experience, and credentials of the people providing services,
and the effectiveness of the services and programs from which we are seeking help.

5. We have the right to be served by organizations or health care and social service providers that view recovery positively, meet the highest public health and safety standards, provide rapid access to services, treat us respectfully, understand that our motivation is related to successfully accessing our strengths and will work with us and our families to find a pathway to recovery.

6. We have the right to be considered as more than a statistic, stereotype, risk score, diagnosis, label, or pathology unit—free from the social stigma that characterizes us as weak or morally flawed. If we relapse and begin treatment
again, we should be treated with dignity and respect that welcomes our continued efforts to achieve long-term recovery.

7. We have the right to a health care and social services system that recognizes the strengths and needs of people with addiction and coordinates its efforts to provide recovery-based care that honors and respects our cultural beliefs. This support may include introduction to religious, spiritual and secular communities of recovery, and the involvement of our families, kinship networks and indigenous healers as part of our treatment experience.

8. We have the right to be represented by informed policymakers who remove barriers to educational, housing,and employment opportunities once we are no longer misusing
alcohol or other drugs and are on the road to recovery.

9. We have the right to respectful, nondiscriminatory care from doctors and other health care providers and to receive services on the same basis as people do for any other chronic illness, with the same provisions, co payments, lifetime benefits and catastrophic coverage in insurance, self funded/ self-insured health plans, Medicare and HMO plans. The criteria of “proper” care should be exclusively between our
health care providers and ourselves; it should reflect the severity, complexity and duration of our illness and provide a reasonable opportunity for recovery maintenance.

10. We have the right to treatment and recovery support in the criminal justice system and to regain our place and rights in society once we have served our
sentences.

11. We have the right to speak out publicly about our recovery to let others know that long-term recovery from addiction is a reality.

"Sometimes its like someone took a knife baby
Edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
Through the middle of my soul

At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
And a freight train running through the
Middle of my head
Only you can cool my desire
Im on fire"