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The holidays are just around the corner again. We have had a better 2021 and pray that 2022 will bring us closer to our new normal.
Our 7th Annual Run for Recovery September 25, 2021 was the best we have ever had. We thank you, our sponsors and participants for joining us in solidarity to reduce the stigma of addiction and mental health. Our CRAFT/ITC trainings this October had registration of 72 participants bringing our total for these trainings to 147 for 2021. This training brings strategies and hope to family members that have loved ones misusing substances. The tools learned are practiced every Tuesday night in our virtual support group. We have reached people all over the country thanks to zoom. We do promote our support group with the links that can be used to attend. In 2021 there were approximately 99,000 deaths in the US due to overdoses. Unexpectedly overdoses from heroin were down. Fentanyl claimed the most lives and according to the data, meth and cocaine are on the rise. We expect to see enhancements to treatment coming in 2022 with new funding from multiple sources. Our wish list:
We continue to provide services to family members who have loved ones who are misusing substances through our partnership with Cove Care Center. We offer two support groups a week and family coaching on an individual basis. Our naloxone trainings are held the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:30 and offer free training and a kit mailed to your home. We are here to help. All you have to do is call. Sincerely, Susan Salomone Founder and Executive Director 845-225-2700 x 245 or email [email protected]
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Drug Crisis in our Backyard is happy to announce the first issue of our quarterly newsletter. This gives us the opportunity to introduce our not-for-profit community action organization to those new to us. Drug Crisis in our Backyard was founded in June of 2012 after the death of our oldest son Justin and the Christiansen’s son Erik to an overdose. We speak for all the families that wish they could have done more to save their loved ones. To that end, we started DCIOBY, we got connected with treatment facilities, local prevention councils, local governmental units, we got educated on treatments that have better outcomes, connected with addiction prescribers, therapists and certified peer recovery advocates. We learned what we didn’t know so that we could help families navigate the chaos created by the disease of addiction.
Our Mission then and now:
COVID was very detrimental to us as it was for many organizations that depend on community outreach to get their information to the general public. However, we did prevail and our support group that had been meeting at the Mahopac Library and Yorktown Cultural Center went virtual via zoom in March 2020. Since then, our reach has expanded and we have people who come from different parts of the country. Our support group is a combination of education and peer support. (Link to the support group) We practice strategies to influence change in a loved one’s behavior. These strategies are taken from the CRAFT model (Community Reinforcement and Family Training). We are having a full training on Oct. 16th via zoom from 9:30-2:00 PM. This session will be conducted by the Center for Motivation and Change. Registration is required here. Drug Crisis in our Backyard works with many coalitions and providers in Westchester and Putnam Counties to provide resources for families. These resources may include help for a loved one misusing drugs or it may be for the family members that are in turmoil because of the devastating effects of addiction. In either case, we have professionals that can help. Please feel free to reach out to us via our website at www.drugcrisisinourbackyard.org Sincerely, Susan Salomone Founder and Executive Director BY DAN SHEERAN, RECOVERY COACH AND PERSONAL TRAINER
RCP, CARC, NASM CPT PRO I am Recovery Coach from Westchester County. Growing up as an athlete, I had mentors and coaches around me that were not from my family of origin. Even with all the mentors in my life supporting my athletic growth and accomplishments, I did not get a message of true wellness. Many adults around me were using at least alcohol, and throughout later years in high school and college, my peers were using alcohol and other substances. Many of our young people today, still do not have a person who represents recovery for them. I’ve learned a lot in my journey to become a recovery coach. I think we, the adult generation, have a task on our hands to be recovery role models to our young generations, now, more than ever. This was something that truthfully never existed for me and I feel doesn’t exist for so many. Recovery? What is that? Recovery from an injury? is usually the first question someone in my group asks. I facilitate my trademarked recovery groups called "Conditions" with teens and young adults in Westchester County. Conditions is packed with self-discovery, fitness, movement, storytelling and self-disclosure. The concept is to continue to do hard things, develop ways to grow and work through uncomfortable situations and stretch ourselves to new heights we never thought we were capable of reaching. The program brings recovery into communities and young people's lives that have never related to it, or have never had a recovery role model. We are able to discuss recovery, not prevention, not drug education, but RECOVERY. I represent that it is possible, even in times and places you would never think, to live a life which improves your health and wellness, supports a self-directed life and is full of actions striving to reach your full potential. Even if you have students, children, and young family members who are connected to recovery-It couldn't hurt to add more and build that capital to add a cushion of compassion and love. I hope to introduce myself and my work to you, but also, leave you with the question - Are YOU ready, willing and open to accept the task of being a recovery role model yourself? Dan Sheeran - Assistant Director of Friends of Recovery Westchester & Recovery Coach Professional in private practice. He brings his athletic background, personal training, and recovery support to groups and 1:1 coaching. Dan understands that no matter what you do in recovery-it’s about living your own vision of peace, growth, and sustainability. For more information or to set up an initial meeting contact [email protected] |
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