Sobriety Success Requires Ongoing Accountability
Editor’s note: In the March issue of EverythingBrevard, The Glass House Recovery housing founder Christi Adams introduced substance use disorder (commonly referred to as addiction) as a community-wide issue that calls upon all of us to support those journeying through recovery.
Recovery from substance use disorder involves a retreat and an advance. The retreat is sustained abstinence from the thing that had been abused, and the advance is personal spiritual growth, or rediscovering and reconnecting with who you are meant to be.
The key to success in both areas comes after initial treatment. It’s vital to connect with a sponsor, recovery coach, therapist or someone understanding of substance use disorder who is accessible and can offer accountability.
Recovery requires a roadmap. And a navigator. Someone fresh out of treatment needs to not only be ready and excited about clean living, but have access to a better quality of life through being able to find a better job and housing.
Not everyone is ready to offer that, though. Many consider addiction a character flaw or a lack of ability to abstain, whereas it’s really about a loss of personal spiritual connection. Addiction has consequences, but people need second chances. It takes time to rediscover who you are, to get a job and operate productively within sobriety.
The more we can educate people that addiction is a disease and loss of spiritual connection, we can involve families and the community to assist those in recovery to help regain their sense of self.
Long-term sobriety requires accountability — whether check-ins are with a sponsor or recovery coach or religious program that helps those in recovery acquire new skills for navigating their journey. Early treatment can be found at places like Circles of Care, but therapy needs to follow. And if someone doesn’t have a job and insurance that offers therapy, it's often unattainable.
But we have resources in our community for such support, including 12-step programs and recovery housing, like The Glass House. They all offer vital accountability, structure and peer support.
Brevard County facilities that offer assistance with treatment and aftercare include:
- LiveWell Behavioral Health
- Peace Club
- JourneyPure Melbourne
- *Circles of Care (numerous programs )
- *Aspire Brevard
* Help clients without insurance
This is a community and family issue, but workplaces need to encourage addicts or people in early recovery to continue to do all of these things, as well. Families need to incorporate counseling, work on communication skills and trust levels, and celebrate the new recovery journey.
People often abuse due to early trauma, so more affordable counseling can help address those issues. Having the sponsor or program that encourages abstinence while also nurturing personal spiritual growth will result in the life we know is attainable.
Connect & Learn More
The Glass House Recovery
321-412-8223
LiveWell Behavioral Health
321-259-1662
JourneyPure Melbourne
Drug rehab and substance abuse treatment
321-758-8885
Peace Club
Mental health therapy and addiction recovery
321-423-1212
Circles of Care
Behavioral healthcare services
321-722-5200
Aspire Brevard
Outpatient center
https://aspirehealthpartners.com/programs-and-services/program-details/43/Brevard-Outpatient-Center/
321-726-2889
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