Clean and sober because recovery works

Every day in our communities, perhaps even in your own household, people rise, yawn and begin the day’s recovery journey. Morning routines differ for each person; some meditate or pray while others run or work out; many will reflect on positive thoughts. All wander through the same waking footsteps as other Americans. While practicing abstinence from alcohol and drug misuse, your neighbors, family members or perhaps even you use the skills that were learned to create a recovering lifestyle. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are successfully managing daily lives without use of alcohol or mind-altering chemicals.

Thankfully, we are reading and hearing more about the problems surrounding the misuse of alcohol or drugs in our culture. Our awareness is growing about treatment alternatives that assist hundreds in our state. We see announcements for 12 Step and other support groups listed in our newspapers. We are becoming more knowledgeable about the illness of addiction, and the devastation that this wreaks on every aspect of the afflicted person’s life as well as those around her/him. And we are told that help is available – we cannot be reminded enough. Nor can the folks still in need of recovery who continue to suffer.

However, in our every day experience, we seldom recognize those people who “live clean.” The persons in recovery who quietly live their lives, and are themselves mindful each day from whence they have come and of the commitment they renew to refrain from mind-altering chemicals. Thousands seek treatment and countless numbers attend support groups that assist them on their way. Some are successful, others are struggling, and too many won’t make it, but all are heroes in one significant way. Each day, their journey begins anew; the active decisions between life or death; the efforts required to not slip into use of whatever substances they crave. Each day, every hour, and often year by year, scores of individuals are getting well. Lives are altered and families heal together, affecting all of us for the better.

Recovery works. We don’t hear this enough. Though winners who live this experience are typically silent and invisible, they may come out to us here and there with their brand of a shameful secret.

“Sh-h, I am in recovery. I no longer use alcohol or misuse drugs. I live a life free of my addictions.”

A shameful secret because to admit this also acknowledges the previous addiction, and how prevalent still is the societal notion that “addicts are weak or morally inferior”? Now living free and more well, recovered people remain afraid to tell anyone about their transformation. Stigma remains; the mark of illness or worse, the discrimination that may follow them when workplaces, licensing boards or insurance companies learn of their prior condition.

Consider this: Should any individual who is living a clean and sober lifestyle be penalized for making it? No matter your answer, many of these fine human beings state that they will not be openly visible, for to do so poses far too great a risk. They have careers, or employment that feeds families, and insurance policies that support those they love. So, invisible they are; and great is our loss.

We are beginning to realize the need in our culture to openly celebrate recovery – to cheerlead the steadfast who struggle to achieve it as well as to encourage the others who clearly are in need. Recovery is daunting, big time, requiring changes in thought and behavior; and develop-ment of new ways to cope with human dilemmas that plague us all. We know that many slip or relapse as they fight for recovery; we are remind-ed that recovery choices must be lifelong.

But the gifts of recovery are worth every challenge. Deeply personal gains are to be realized; surprising circumstances occur and delightful life changes abound. Gratitude is a common theme, replacing constant restlessness that drives addictive behavior. The hours that used to be spent pursuing alcohol or drugs are now filled with enriching activities. These are the messages that inspire hope and draw others. Visible recovery representatives are living proof that freedom from addiction is possible. Their mere presence will save many lives by example.

Across our country, people in recovery joined by committed others strive to make recovery visible. They serve as recovery advocates; benefiting communities that will share in recovery successes. To enable this, the stigma surrounding recovery must be diminished; a priority goal.

In our state, the Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery (MAAR) is working to fulfill these goals. We are Maine’s grass-roots organization that is dedicated to public education about the strengths inherent in the recovery process. We are here to say that people are healing from addiction – that recovery works – and whether you know it or not, you are surrounded by individuals in recovery. This is worthy of respect if not admiration.

If you are interested in learning more about the Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery, and its Bangor chapter, please contact us at 458-4366. You can visit our Web site at www.masap.org, by clicking on the “recovery” link.

Debbie Dettor, M.S., is the coordinator of MAAR, and has more than 20 years experience honoring the achievements of people who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.