Done-With-It!
06-26-2008, 09:36 AM
Recovery
Being "in recovery" is the phrase used to signify that someone no longer has an addiction. For many people, recovery means abstaining from drugs and alcohol. Others characterize it more broadly as having achieved a renewed state of well-being and connection with family, loved ones, and the community.
One's recovery status used to be a taboo topic; for many, it still is. However, people nationwide have started to speak out for and about recovery. People in recovery are joining forces with friends and family, learning to talk about their experiences and successes in ways that do not compromise twelve-step traditions of anonymity.
For too long, those affected most by the disease of addiction have been silent, and therefore absent from the public policy debate. Silence perpetuates the ongoing stigma about addiction and reinforces its stereotypes. The more comfortable people can be with openly discussing recovery, the greater chance we have to overcome discrimination against people with active or past drug and alcohol problems.
Being "in recovery" is the phrase used to signify that someone no longer has an addiction. For many people, recovery means abstaining from drugs and alcohol. Others characterize it more broadly as having achieved a renewed state of well-being and connection with family, loved ones, and the community.
One's recovery status used to be a taboo topic; for many, it still is. However, people nationwide have started to speak out for and about recovery. People in recovery are joining forces with friends and family, learning to talk about their experiences and successes in ways that do not compromise twelve-step traditions of anonymity.
For too long, those affected most by the disease of addiction have been silent, and therefore absent from the public policy debate. Silence perpetuates the ongoing stigma about addiction and reinforces its stereotypes. The more comfortable people can be with openly discussing recovery, the greater chance we have to overcome discrimination against people with active or past drug and alcohol problems.