In partnership with Alison Jones Webb
Creating a community that helps people in recovery needs many different people to work together. This includes all community members, groups, businesses, and leaders who make laws. The main goal is to make a place where people in recovery feel supported, face less judgment, and can be happy and healthy.
Here are a couple steps to start the process:
Gathering Community Resources
The first step is to know, use and share the local resources we have. This means getting help from friends, community leaders, businesses, and faith-based groups to support recovery. By bringing together all these different helpers, we can make a caring place for people who are on their recovery path.
Creating Safe Spaces
It’s important to have places without alcohol or drugs so people in recovery can make new friends and learn new, healthy ways to live — like recovery residences or recovery community centers. These places give stability and a sense of belonging, which are very important for recovery that lasts a long time.
Reducing Stigma
A big problem for people in recovery is the negative judgment or stigma about substance use. We can help by using kind words and having open talks about addiction and recovery. When the community understands and supports recovery, people are more likely to ask for help and feel welcome.
Providing Education and Awareness
Teaching people about addiction and recovery helps everyone understand and support those in recovery. Informative campaigns, workshops, events and sessions can clear up misunderstandings and make the community more knowledgeable and supportive.
Building Recovery Capital
Recovery capital is all the personal, social, and community support that helps people in recovery. This includes access to education, jobs, health care, and social services. By improving these resources, communities help people in recovery lead better lives which in turn strengthens the whole community.
Encouraging Diverse Pathways to Recovery
Everyone’s recovery journey is different, so we need to support many ways of recovering. This includes traditional programs, medical treatments, faith-based methods, and other proven approaches. By offering different options, we can help everyone find the best way for them.
Building a recovery-friendly community takes time and teamwork. By using local resources, creating safe places, reducing stigma, supporting friends, changing policies, teaching the community, getting everyone involved, improving recovery support, taking care of holistic health, and supporting different recovery paths, we can make a community that helps everyone heal and feel better.
Together, we can create a happier, healthier place for everyone.