Recovery Inspiration

Open Recovery in the Family: A Physician's Personal Experience Earlier this month, a woman living in northern California gathered the support of her friends, family and colleagues to forward the Open Recovery paradigm within her network. She believes in the power of being open as an affront to stigma. We sat down and had a conversation with her – her enthusiasm transpired through the candid dialogue. Working as an internal medicine physician at a large hospital in an affluent community, Susan works on healthcare programs which service a population often invisible to many. Her focus has been to lead programs which offer patient-centered wraparound services for underserved and vulnerable populations experiencing poor health outcomes, like those struggling with substance use disorder. Programs like these coordinate health, behavioral health and social services in the patient’s care, providing services beyond the doctor’s office and promoting improved wellbeing. Beyond her work as a physician,…

I have been battling addiction since the age of 12 and I've had years of sobriety followed by years of relapses. My best time high doesn’t come close to my worse time sober. I am no longer a slave to addiction. I don’t have to be the person I once was. It’s a freeing feeling not waking up sick worrying about the next high. I have hope and faith and real friends. I can hold my head up high, be proud of who I am, and be open about my recovery. It’s a battle but a battle I’m not willing to lose. I wake up with faith and joy! One day at a time I get stronger! The struggle is real. My name is Raeanne and #THISISRECOVERY.

Our family suffered a terrible tragedy, the death of our son and Henry’s brother, David. David died of a drug overdose on 12/20/15. David was well into rehab at a very well regarded treatment center. By all accounts he was doing well. We had planned a visit to David two weeks after he died. Henry has been mourning the loss of his brother ever since. Only yesterday (10/27/16) Henry told me (his mother) about the following as we were driving home from school. He had never mentioned any of this until yesterday. The day after David died, Henry was understandably in search of meaning regarding losing David. He was browsing on Instagram and saw a post written by a young woman who was struggling with heroin addiction. Henry responded to her post with the following message, which he did not want me to share with others, but I can’t help…

All across America, millions of people who once were imprisoned by their addictions, are now living healthy, free and productive lives in recovery. It’s time to share some of their stories. Watch Open Recovery featured in Facing Addiction's docu-series 'Out of the Shadows'. And read the full article which made front page of the Huffington Post.

Center for Open Recovery’s Drug Diversion Program is geared towards supporting  participants to make positive behavioral and lifestyles changes through the reduction of and/or elimination of using alcohol and other drugs as a solution that actually causes unwelcomed and unintended problems. Instead of reaching for substances, we help clients identify other healthier choices that they can make to enhance their lives and empower themselves to live healthily and positively. Our Drug Diversion Programs consist of 12-24 weeks of group education and counseling sessions. Ryan K. recently participated in the three month Drug Diversion Program, completing the program in January 2016.  He shared the unexpected benefits of his experience: "As I think back to being handcuffed and walking out of the courthouse, it was hard to see what could come out of it.  I was arrested -- a bag of cocaine fell out of my pocket at the Bay to Breakers…