LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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:

• Recovery Centers in every community for those in early recovery to gather with peers for resume writing, job searching assistance, life skills, mutual aid meetings, and social ​activities.  
• Recovery Housing for those reentering the community from inpatient treatment. We wish that the many peers that have been trained be put to work and be covered by insurance. 
•  A transportation model that will assist those that have lost driving privileges due to SUD. This is done in other areas of NYS and can be done in the Hudson Valley. 

This seems like an expensive wish list but there are millions of dollars that have been allotted to the State and Counties through federal funding.  Hopefully the money will be used to implement programs that supplement current SUD treatment and improve outcomes for recovery. 
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 ssal@drugcrisisinourbackyard.com