Throughout 2020, a staggering 91,799 people died due to an epidemic. However, it was not Covid that felled these Americans. It was drug overdoses. The amount of people who have died from overdoses of drugs such as heroin, Oxycontin, and, most recently, Fentanyl is skyrocketing. Opioids are the main culprits behind drug overdose death, and Fentanyl is the latest drug wreaking havoc in cities across the nation.
Drug addiction, especially addiction to opioids, can be a disease that is challenging to conquer. However, recovery for those with drug addictions is possible. The road to recovery, like many journeys, begins with a single step. Robin Lindeman, Executive Director at Infinite Recovery, knows how to get people going with that first step.
“People don’t know what they don’t know,” says Lindeman, “The disease of addiction is shrouded in a lot of denial, guilt, and shame.” The denial and the shame can hamper the recovery process before it even begins. This is why it’s essential that professionals like Lindeman share what the process of beginning recovery should look like, removing some of the mystery behind getting help. “When we see clients whose addiction has escalated, it comes to a point where family members are almost lost. They don’t know how to access help. They don’t know what to do, “explains Lindeman.
The Initial Steps Towards Help
As Lindeman observes, many families do not know where to begin when a loved one needs help. The first place families should go for information is often Google. They should start researching local recovery options and doing some leg work to find the best place for their loved one. Families should research facilities and speak to their insurance companies to determine what is covered under their plans.
Vetting recovery facilities can be challenging. Some rely on sales and marketing tactics that can be reminiscent of a used car lot instead of a healthcare organization. Lindeman urges families to find a place where they feel connected to the staff and the organization’s mission. “The connection at the beginning, when you are desperate for help, is extremely important. In moments of fear and desperation, finding someone who can provide you with support, guidance and love is extremely important,” she says.
Lindeman also encourages families and loved ones to read reviews of recovery centers to grasp how people have felt about their services.
Once the Decision is Made
Once it is decided that the person needing help will be seeking recovery, “Then the real work begins,” remarks Lindeman. Once the one with the addiction problem seeks help, it is then the family’s turn to get help as well. Lindeman explains that drug addiction is a family disease. The only difference between its effect on the user and the family is that the drug addict gets to use when they feel lonely, lost, sad, or ashamed. The family has to endure all of the same — sober. “We strongly believe in Al-Anon at Infinite Recovery. A-Anon is similar to Alcoholic Anonymous. Each self help group is based on the 12 Step model. You work with a sponsor, you attend meetings and develop a life long support group. It’s an extremely beneficial way to start processing through some of those things.”
Other groups such as NarcAnon or family therapy resources can help families deal with their part of the disease of drug addiction in tandem with their loved one who is in recovery.
Recovery is Possible
At Infinite Recovery, 90 to 95% of their staff are in recovery themselves, reports Lindeman. This staffing approach allows new clients to see firsthand the value of the recovery process. The staff members develop a deep rapport and trust with clients, and the clients can get a peek behind the curtain of what life can look like drug-free.
Many organizations and facilities also bring back former clients to act as mentors for current clients. Infinite Recovery has an Alumni Program that allows former clients that have succeeded in staying sober to come back and share their stories. They are walking examples of the success of the facility’s message, and their presence and wisdom instill hope in those just starting their recovery journey.
Breaking the Stigma
“There is a stigma that still surrounds addiction,” says Lindeman, “I think there are people who believe that if you were just “strong enough” or if you cared about your family enough, you would stop. But it’s a disease of the brain.” Lindeman feels strongly that breaking the stigma around addiction is one of the most significant steps in getting more people into recovery. Many schools of thought support the idea that addiction is a selfish act, a situation that requires mind over matter, or is curable with just the right amount of willpower. It’s an angle that Lindeman flat-out rejects. “It is our job to bring awareness to the disease and bring the message that there is hope and people can recover,” Lindeman says, “The stigma keeps people sick and keeps people dying.”
In 2021, there was disappointment in the recovery community when the numbers for overdose deaths in the US were revealed — 107,622 people, a nearly 15% increase from the previous year. Much of this can be attributed to the influx of Fentanyl and Fentanyl-laced products. But, the stigma surrounding addiction plays an active role in the ballooning statistics. People like Lindeman and the caregivers at Infinite Recovery are working diligently to not only bring state-of-the-art recovery care to those who need it but to change the way the world looks at those who use drugs.” This disease is killing people,” says Lindeman, “It’s our social responsibility and our responsibility as human beings to bring awareness to what this disease is doing.”
