A call for community action

Studies have shown that those recovering from substance use disorders (SUDs) are better able to maintain their recovery if they have access to human, social, physical, and cultural resources. However, when a person is jailed with a felony drug charge, they lose access to the resources they need to initiate or maintain their recovery. One point is that you cannot get approved for financial aid to continue an education that may have been interrupted by the SUD.

I am not here to argue for or against legalizing drugs. My opinion on the matter is just that, my opinion. My concern is that we need to do more to help those who want to initiate and maintain their recovery. As members of a community that has been hit by the drug epidemic, we should become aware of the resources needed for recovery, work to ensure they are available when needed, and know how to evaluate when that need occurs.

We need to develop a plan to evaluate stages of recovery, offer interventions to ensure resources are available when needed, and then evaluate the outcomes of having access to those resources. Eventually, we will become able to predict some of the resources needed to sustain recovery that could allow individuals to strategize through the maintenance stage and reach a point of decreased risk of relapse. Having resources available that are adequate to decrease the negative effects of life’s hassles may help individuals cope with the stress that comes along with a transition in life.