Volunteering and Learning

Dear Readers,

Lexi Reed Holtum, Executive Director of SRHN

The first year after retiring from teaching, I worked as a substitute for a year. 
But my hearing was getting so bad, I had to stop that.
The next year I quit drinking and got my first cochlear implant. I went into a deep depression because of the deafness, and coping with everything was very hard.

Sean Odonnell, Director of Programs

Gradually, I got myself up and out more, and started to look for a place to volunteer. I met a wonderful woman, and she told me about her organization, Steve Rummler Hope Network. This organization started when a young man, Steve Rummler, lost his life due to opioid addiction which started when he was physically injured. You can find the newest information about SRHN on FaceBook or on their Website. 

John Perlach,
Community Relations Coordinator

I started by helping organize materials and supplies, and making kits with 
Naloxone, the drug that saves a person when they are overdosing on an opioid.
I still make kits, and help organize the other volunteers who come and help.

I love volunteering, and I love knowing what I am doing has saved lives so people can get help.

We love helping other people!

When I started I knew nothing about drug addiction, besides alcohol.
When I was younger, I definitely had negative views of alcoholics and drug addicts. Then, I became an alcoholic. But even after some time of learning about addiction, I still held some negative views of drug addicts. 

Some of the great volunteers!

Then I volunteered, where I met and worked side by side with many people, some of whom were in recovery from drug addiction, or had a family member who was. I met and worked with parents who child had died from opioids. 

And I learned.
I learned the effects of using one type of drug or another will differ, but the alcoholic and addict have the same underlying fears, insecurities, trauma, and need to escape.
This changed my views, and I now understand more, how any addiction takes over our brains, and changes how we act. It is not a moral failure. Some people who use alcohol or drugs will become addicted, others will not. 

Rand Anderson.
A recovery coach, and an amazing guy!

Alcohol and drug addiction knows no class or race.
It's not them against us.
It is us.
It is our loved ones, our friends, our coworkers. 

Yes, people with addictions do bad things sometimes. I did some things I was not proud of when my drinking was bad. But I was not bad. 
I was a good person with an addiction.
The stigma around drug addiction remains. 

Pharmacy students getting trained on opioid addiction,
making kits with Naloxone!

I learned that many people still want drug addicts to die in streets, not be saved. They blame their loved one, saying it was their fault. 

I drank no more than my friends and yet, I became addicted.
It was not my choice.

I am still learning, and I am so very proud of my recovery friends around the world, and here in Minnesota. 

To mothers and fathers of children who have died from addiction, I send you my love. 

On Day 1660,
Wendy

PS - If you want, you can find me on Twitter with #Recoveryposse