Onward to 2022!
As I reflect on the last year, and specifically, the efforts at the KCRCO over the last several months, I have some thoughts I wanted to share with our supporters at the end of the year.
First, thank you to all of our supporters. We have felt the support of the community in every sector of our public and private businesses & organizations. We have enjoyed the many messages, emails, calls, and visits from individuals and organizations that see the value in what we are doing and want to help us grow. I have beamed with pride each time I have been able to talk about the mission of the KCRCO and show off our amazing space. None of this would be possible without the support of our community as a whole. So again, thank you all!
The creation of the KCRCO was really, just an idea of mine for several years. I learned about Recovery Community Organizations while doing research for my master’s program in 2012. The information about them was again in my brain when I was working with others in the community to try to start a Recovery High School. I have read about them extensively, and, the more I learned, the more I wanted want for our area. I wanted a place to showcase, to celebrate, to honor, to help people in recovery from a substance use disorder. A place with our logo on the windows right downtown for all to enjoy. As I type this, I am sitting in that space. It IS here and it IS amazing.
The last year has been painful when we look at the record breaking increase in overdose deaths nationwide, in our state, and, in our own community. Seeing lives lost is never easy in any scenario, but with overdoses it is especially hard. I have talked to many in our community who have lost a family member or have a family member they fear losing. These conversations are so hard. I have learned to listen and have empathy for their situation.
I have said many times in the last several years, and for sure the last couple of years during the pandemic, what I believe will turn this around. We need to do more not less across the board for substance use disorders.
We need to be innovative in our approaches to treatment and recovery processes for substance use disorders. We MUST allow for actual transformation in the treatment industry so there are multiple paths allowed for someone to get, and, stay in recovery. Doing the same ‘ol same ol’ has to end. I have called on all providers to truly give individualized care when someone walks in their doors. Many entities say they do this in pamphlets, but in reality it is the same ‘ol same ‘ol. That has to end. Short of imploding the entire treatment industry as a whole, we MUST demand more from treatment providers as a whole. I know this is not simple and will require a ton of work from an industry that is used to using an antiquated system of care that is entrenched in the industry, but, the reality is this. If we truly want to save more lives, this IS an area that must be addressed.
I 100% believe that ALL paths to recovery MUST be allowed across all systems of care. There are treatment providers who are beginning to understand this. There are some in the judicial system with a willingness to see the value in thinking outside the box. Yet, we must do more when talking about what is allowed to be called recovery support and what isn’t. One of the core tenants of the KCRCO is to encourage, support, and promote all paths in recovery. It matters little to us whether someone uses church, twelve step, secular paths, MAT, or any of the many other recovery supports. What matters for us, and what we look at and challenge other systems of care to also look at is has the person life improved?
We know, we say, we even promote recovery being a holistic process. I challenge all who have interactions with people in recovery to do the same. For systems that require some type of recovery support, we challenge them to allow for all supports that are available. It shouldn’t matter if someone uses their faith, a twelve step group, a secular recovery, an exercise program, or some other way to support their life in recovery,. At the KCRCO we offer now, and will offer more in 2022, a multitude of recovery supports at our building. We know there are faith based organizations who do the same. We will be encourage community members in recovery to start SMART Recovery, Secular Recovery, and other recovery supports to give people a multitude of options to support their life in recovery. All of these should count as a recovery support by entities that require them.
I challenge all of our local leaders who are in a position to make decisions about a person who will enter a life in recovery to think outside the box when it comes to how that recovery looks. Educate yourself and your staff on the many pathways to get to, and, to stay in recovery. The research in this area is clear. There is no one way to get to and stay in recovery. That is a myth and must die. I am not just talking about MAT recovery with that statement. I am talking about what I have mentioned earlier about the many different support groups and tools one can use to support a life in recovery. We must get out of the narrow silos some think in this regard.
I ask all in recovery to speak loudly about your amazing life. All to often people find their life in recovery and go silent. We have many in our community who are living amazing lives in recovery, yet, we don’t hear about what they did to get there and how they maintain their recovery. I imagine a community where we hear those that have a life in recovery speak loudly about it so those in positions of power can hear them. One of the goals of the KCRCO is to shine a bright light on the lives of people in recovery. Why? The more the community hears about how recovery does work, the more they will be willing to support programs that will get others to a life in recovery. I challenge you to join our efforts at the KCRCO in whatever way you see best so we can reach as many people as possible over 2022.
In closing, I want to again thank all of our supporters. I have been overwhelmed at times with the outpouring of support for our cause. It has also confirmed in me the long held belief that this is exactly what we needed in our community. We could not do it without your support.
Respectfully,
David A Douglas EdD CFLE
Person in Recovery
President/Founder