Love of Recovery

January 2015

Rockers in recovery FREE music & art festival

"LOVE OF RECovery" February 14, 12pm-11pm

CB Smith Park - 900 N Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida (Details on back page.)

The Mission of the Addict’s Mom Music Therapy

Finding Hope for Recovery in Family

Celebrate Your Recovery!

The 8 Absolutes of Relapse Prevention

Do Students Listen To Anti-Drug Messages? www.rockersinrecovery.org

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Info

Credits Publisher

Rockers In Recovery Radio Productions

Layout & Design

Philip Salvagni philipsalvagni@gmail.com

Contact 954-826-4920 825 NE 12th Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 www.rockersinrecovery.org john@rockersinrecovery.org

articles Above All Recovery Center "The Solution"..........................................................6 The Mission of the Addict’s Mom: To “Share Without Shame”............................8 Finding Hope for Recovery in Family.. 10 Do Students Listen To Anti-Drug Messages? – That Depends on The Messenger.................................................... 12 The Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR).................................... 16 Celebrate Your Recovery!....................... 18 Music Therapy............................................. 20 The 8 Absolutes of Relapse Prevention..................................................... 22 Always Second Chances In Albany, New York....................................... 26 Association of Recovery Schools........ 30 A Village of Recovery and Vision......... 32 4

Rockers in Recovery Magazine

Addiction Awareness & Prevention Through Rock-N-Roll". Our goal is to provide education and support about addiction, as well as, drug and alcohol rehab treatment options to different communities across the United States.

SAMHSA is proud to partner with Rockers In Recovery along with other federal agencies and national organizations, and thanks them for their support of National Prevention Week.

Just Believe Recovery Center Get to know Frank Marino by calling 561-729-4318 The Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR) Get to know John Lehman by calling 561-288-1721 The Gardens at Lake Worth Get to know Meredith Turnbull by calling 850-273-2112 Pro-Act of Philadelphia Get to know Fred Martin by calling 215-923-1661 Serenity Centers of Tennessee Get to know George Massengill or Davis by calling 865-696-8169 Advanced Health and Education of New Jersey Get to know Frank Norton by calling 978-407-4814 Above All Recovery Center Get To Know Steven Schwartz by calling 954-825-9242 Destination Hope Get To Know Candice Conway by calling 954-200-9480 The Recovery Village Get To Know Lisa Crawford by calling 914-391-2949 The Shores Treatment and Recovery Get To Know Lyle Fried by calling 772-332-8711 All About Recovery Get To Know Stephanie Humphries by calling 561-502-7874 Fellowship Living Get To know Rick & Susan Riccardi by calling (954) 249-5589

"What We Can't Do Alone, We Can Do Together" RIR Corporate Office: 954-826-5968 Visit Us At - RockersInRecovery.org www.rockersinrecovery.org

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Above All Recovery Center "The Solution" with others and peace with a Higher Power.

By Steve Schwartz

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s the holidays approach, no matter what your background, there is a great deal of talk about “peace.”

When was the last time you felt at peace?

Can you look at yourself in the mirror?

Can you look your children in the eye?

Can you look into the eyes of your loved ones?

The solution is simple, but it isn’t easy.

We know this because we have lived it.

Above All Recovery Center was founded by people who have a passion for recovery. We have walked down the dark roads of recovery and have come out the other end. The journey, for us, isn’t over, but part of that journey is bringing others along. It has been the experience of the founders of our program that one thing has been proven over the years to guarantee permanent recovery and that is the 12 Step Fellowship. We aren’t reinventing the wheel. We have experienced those things that once eluded us: peace with ourselves, peace

In addition to our strength, experience and hope, we offer professional services including Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services which include therapeutic groups and individual and family counseling. We have traditional 12-step recovery, Christian and holistic programming.

These services are provided by licensed mental health professionals, psychiatrists, medical doctors, kinetic therapists, Tai Chi masters and professionals of the healing arts.

Our staff have gone back to the basics and found great success in transmitting the message and interpreting it in a way that all can understand. Our clients are exposed to the 12 Steps and are brought through the process of learning how to live life in alignment with the Steps.

Come join us. Let us help you become empowered and aligned with “The Solution.” Come find some peace. «

Allow us to help you develop your strength in sobriety.

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The Mission of the Addict’s Mom:

To “Share Without Shame”

By Sherry Schlenke Written by Sherry Schlenke, the mother of a child with the disease of addiction.

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he Addict’s Mom (TAM) provides a forum to “Share Without Shame” for the mothers of children suffering from the deadly disease of addiction. The importance of this mission cannot be overstated. Upon learning of her child’s addiction, a mother will experience shock, denial, and feelings of guilt. In her mind, she will replay her new mantra: I failed as a mother. The shame becomes part of her very being. She becomes depressed, ill, secretive, anxious, fearful, and pessimistic; she begins to lose her very self. Her Mother’s Heart is broken and crushed.

She observes other families celebrating l i f e ’ s milestones: a graduation, a wedding, a birth, a new career; she grows angry and bitter. She commits her life to “saving” her child. She visits her child in

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frightful places: the prison, the homeless shelter, a Psychiatric Unit, or inescapably, the morgue. She is desperate in body and soul, but perhaps she has other children, whose physical, emotional, and social needs must be met. How can she turn away from those children?

These mothers of children suffering from addiction, whether in active struggle, in recovery, or dead, are shell-shocked, even battle-scarred. She feels so alone.

TAM is the only forum where these broken mothers can share their experiences, either online, or inperson. There are over 20,000 members who understand the grief, and who offer comfort, support, and hope.

The mothers of TAM are connected by a shared, but horrible bond. TAM moms feel compassion, they listen, and they do not judge as others do. The Addict’s Mom allows us to truly “Share W i t h o u t Shame”. We moms of TAM are connected for life. «

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Finding Hope for Recovery in Family emotional support. It teaches us to reach out our hands to the very people that we may have alienated earlier in life.

By adv health

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oday I can recognize something good in my family and work at building a relationship. As the recovery process progresses, we sometimes lose sight of the strong motivation that we had in the beginning.

We often need kernels of hope that can carry us through to the next day, week or month. Family is one of the most important elements in recovering addicts' lives. Therefore, we can tightly clench the idea of rebuilding the foundations of our families as a powerful motivator. Every day we stay away from drugs and alcohol is a day that the trust re-enters our family circles.

Committing to a 12-step program is one way that we can reestablish family ties. Our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers will see us striving to obtain the knowledge and the strength that we n e e d to stay sober. They may hear our confessions and sense our regret for the harmful actions that we may have taken during the course of our illnesses.

Twelve-step recovery teaches us to look within ourselves and examine our innermost flaws. It teaches us to learn that we are imperfect beings in need of

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A divided house may fall, but a united house can withstand the fiercest of storms. The success of addiction recovery depends greatly on the support that we have from our family members. However, we must work hard to regain that support.

We must dedicate ourselves to staying p u r e , educating ourselves, and gaining emotional and psychological maturity. A 12-step program will gradually take us where we need to be for full health and aftercare survival.

The time that we spend with our family members in between meetings will give us the strength that we need to survive until the next one.

Recovering addicts are similar to growing flowers. To strive, we need sun, water and positive energy. The addiction treatment center can act as our sun, enlightening us with the tools we need to prevent relapse. Our positive outlook and self-confidence can serve as our waters, saturating us with the faith that we need to battle our innermost demons.

Our family can provide us with a source of positive energy that shields us from all evils. Once we have all three elements in place, we can grow into mature, drugfree individuals with blessed futures. ÂŤ

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Do Students Listen To Anti-Drug Messages?

– That Depends on The Messenger

By Michael DeLeon

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ur youth need a message, and the urgency of that message has never been more critical.

Everyone has read the headlines, seen the news reports. Most people are informed and are aware of what is happening in our state and across the country with drugs.

Yet, the epidemic continues to escalate.

It continues to take our kids, our young adults, urban, suburban, rural; it doesn’t discriminate. Heroin. Prescription Pill Medication. Increases in drug-induced accidents and alcohol related emergency room visits. And more drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths than our country has ever seen.

Treatment professionals have been predicting this for years. Law enforcement has been describing how the nature of their police-calls have changed. First responders have reported the drug-related escalation and the state medical examiner’s death numbers have been front page news in every paper across the state. Yet overdose death for 18 to 24 year olds increased 24% last year, and they didn’t start at 18. Why didn’t those young adults get the antidrug message when they were in school.

Why didn’t they D.A.R.E. to resist drugs?

Why didn’t they “Just Say NO?" Youth are the most important audience we need to address right now. Preventing drug experimentation throughout middle and high school and keeping young adults off drugs as they mature through their 20’s takes more than parents as the anti-drug. It takes more than a week 12

of drug facts in health class. It takes more than some posters and pencils with anti-drug sayings and a red ribbon every October. It takes all of the above, but more than that, it takes a strong educational message from the right messenger.

Law enforcement have increased their student assemblies to warn about drugs, many believing that D.A.R.E. should be expanded. But the messenger for youth, for students in schools, is respectfully not the cop. They might be everyday role models to youth. However, the kids that are using drugs, or are at high risk to use drugs, or who believe that alcohol and marijuana are not toxic, harmful, gateway, addictive drugs, will never listen to this type of messenger.

Youth need to hear real life messages from real life messengers. They need to listen to someone that is not talking from a book, but from experience. They need to listen to someone that doesn’t just tell them what the consequences are, but from someone who has to live with a life full of consequences because of the actual use and abuse of drugs and alcohol. Former sports stars and celebrities aren’t effective either.

Students need to be able to identify with the messenger and to understand that what happened to the star could happen to the kid, but it’s impossible to separate the celebrity status from the everyday issue. When schools bring in high-priced celebrities, the kids are more interested in a selfie and an autograph than they are in an educational experience. They’ll remember the celebrity. They might even remember their story, but chances are they won’t learn from it.

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Coalitions and prevention agencies are an important part of the overall strategy as well. But as sole messengers, they’re ineffective without something real to enhance the curriculum or program as a powerful catalyst. Presentation programs that use engaging, real life messengers, who wrap their life within an educational lesson, are effective. Students need to experience and learn from something powerful. Steered Straight meets that need.

And just bringing in someone with experience to tell a simple story isn’t enough either. Everyone has a story. But can the messenger teach with his or her story. What is the value of the lesson and can youth get it? Is there a take-away?

Is it ongoing? Are the lessons taught or caught? In this time of crisis, it is our youth who need education the most, and the lessons they need must come from people who can deliver it so it lasts, is effective, and tangentially changes their attitudes and behaviors toward drugs.

Powerful presenters, some of whom are in long-term recovery, some of whom are ex-offenders, are extremely effective in bringing a long-lasting and impressionable message to students about the importance of choices. The message is critical right now as we work together to turn the tide of this epidemic.

As important as the message is, the messenger is even more important if we want the message to get through. ÂŤ

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The Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR) Level III:

By farr

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ARR does not offer a rating scale that measures the efficacy or valuation of any individual certified residence. Our mission is to ensure the availability of housing that is: 1. Safe and dignified 2. Alcohol and drug free 3. A peer supportive environment 4. A good neighbor and responsible citizen FARR recognizes four distinct support levels under the singular term Recovery Residence. One level is not better or more advanced than the others, but instead offers a unique service structure most appropriate for a particular resident.

Level I: Oxford House is the most successful model for a Level I Recovery Residence.

Democratically run; this level is not a “business model”. Persons in recovery live together and cover the housing expenses jointly.

24/7/365 staffed program providing a high degree of structure for persons early in recovery. Frequently, residents of a Level III program concurrently attend outside clinical and therapeutic services offered by independent providers. No licensable, clinical services are provided by the Level III operator.

Level IV: These programs incorporate the medical model (clinical services) into the social model (peer support). Typically, they are licensed under rule by DCF as Residential 3, 4 or 5 programs.

Substance abuse treatment is scheduled at a properly zoned site and residents live in residential neighborhoods when not engaged in clinical services. Often, this level is referred to as “The Florida Model."

To learn more about FARR Standards, please visit our website at www.farronline.org/standards. «

Level II: Operated by a landlord who typically compensates, through rent reduction, a senior resident to monitor resident adherence to a set of house rules. Only persons in recovery are permitted to reside in a Level II residence and agree at intake to random/for-cause drug screenings. Residents are responsible for structuring their own recovery related activities.

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Celebrate Your Recovery!

Recovery sets us free from demons of despair.

By The gardens at lake worth

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tepping over the threshold into freedom from the demons of despair is a long road for many alcoholics and people addicted to other substances. The thrills, the perceived happiness and disillusioned sense of belonging we felt when drunk or high are no more. The denial of being an alcoholic or addict is gone. The notion that sobriety would bring boredom and dullness to everyday life, with no sense of belonging and a big empty list of friends is no more. We discovered a whole new world without alcohol or other drugs. We are free! “So now what? Where do I go from here?� you might ask. Fear starts to loom in the shadows as you think about your new life without alcohol or drugs. Then you close your eyes and let your new-found confidence emerge.

Your eyes have been opened. This time,

you know you are ready to face the world and live that new life, to carry the message to others and help lift them up as they battle their demons of despair.

The people who lifted you up and continue to do so are likely to become your best friends for life. They, like you, realize that it is possible to come back from the demons of despair and live dayto-day life as a productive member of society who is well-respected. You want to celebrate your recovery; you are free!

But how? Celebrating always involved using. Now you need a new way to celebrate and without alcohol or drugs.

Reward yourself because rewarding ourselves gives us more power than when we beat ourselves up. Attend a recovery event or host one of your own.

Volunteer to give back to the community, or celebrate by getting a massage or new hairstyle. Spend the day with your sober friends and celebrate your freedom from the demons of despair that gripped you so tightly when you were using. Give yourself permission to feel happiness and joy. Celebrate y o u r recovery and new-found freedom!

I can celebrate and reward myself w i t h o u t resorting to alcohol or other drugs and you can too. ÂŤ

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Music Therapy – Before I Was Ready

By Stephanie Humphries

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remember in early recovery which started before I put down the drugs and alcohol. I know some of you may think WHAT! You can’t recover without stopping using. Well you are all too correct except, I beg to differ on a subconscious level. I was recovering, my thoughts my feelings, my memories of a happier time. HOW you ask. Well there were times when caught in the whirlwind of my despair whether purposefully or by coincidence a song would come on the radio or if, I was lucky enough to be hearing live music. I would find myself transported to a thought, feeling, memory, and there lies the recovery because when the music played I knew that I was alive, and I had feelings and an understanding, compassion, the blood was pumping through my veins my heart. I was h u m a n , in that moment!

Because when left to my own silent prison of active addiction, it was quite and devastating, I was hopeless. But the song whether sad, happy, silly or serious spoke to me. What little was left of me that the drugs and alcohol and other addictions hadn’t enveloped completely.

It whispered to the lost soul trapped inside.

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I so wanted to find my way out. And the music was always there reminding me of things, people, goals, dreams, love, loss, hopes, laughter, fears no matter I could not deny it. Against my will sometimes the music provided therapy, made me better. So the saying “stop and listen to the music”, took on a whole new meaning I found that often the music would take me places that I had not been willing to engage or acknowledge for a long time. So after becoming clean imagine my delight to find that I could take my passion for music coupled with a therapist and reach new heights in this journey of healing and hope. Today I delight in where my recovery, with the help of music, has propelled me. I now support an agency that there mission is to provide an Addiction Awareness & Prevention Message through music. Today I am the Program Development of All About Recovery and AAR Recovery Residences and Signing on as a Sponsor of RIR events proves the music is still there guiding me. «

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The 8 Absolutes of Relapse Prevention don’t need others input in our lives, we are in a dangerous place.

By Lyle Fried

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lot of people do well in treatment, but struggle tremendously in aftercare.

“I can’t believe I relapsed. I never even saw it coming.” These are the words of many who experience relapse. Whether you’ve said them yourself or are putting together a plan against potential relapse, here are 8 absolute truths that will help lay a solid foundation for successful sobriety:

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Relapse is not a ‘suddenly’. It is a process. You are not helpless against relapse. Every day you are either moving closer to it or farther away, depending on the choices you make.

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Relapse prevention is intentional.

We do recover, but we must continue to work a program of recovery. We should never leave our sobriety to chance. Laying out a protected plan for ourselves is vital to our continued sobriety. Compromising here and there with people, places and things; just a little, just enough to justify, will eventually lead us down a path of destruction.

Remember, a ship just a fraction of a degree off course will eventually end up miles from the intended destination.

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Fearless honesty with self. Self protection and denial are best friends.

Instead of listening to the advice of our sponsor, our therapists, our recovery mentors and those closest to us, we choose the slippery slope of denial. When we begin to think we’ve ‘got it’ or that we 22

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Avoid high risk situations. Have you gradually started surrounding yourself with people you used with? Are you getting closer and closer to the fire?

Do you have a desire to ‘prove to yourself’ you’ll be okay around the substances that used to control your life? If you ask yourself these questions honestly, you already know the answer.

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Cultivate a positive mindset. So many people struggle and relapse because they are coming from a negative mindset. “Why can’t I drink like other people? Why can’t I use successfully?” are the questions they won’t stop asking.

On the other hand, those who flourish in sobriety have cultivated a love of being sober. They realize the beauty of the world around them and they want to experience it with 100% clarity. Sobriety is the higher life. It is the good life and they know it.

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Avoid isolation. Isolation is your worst enemy in recovery. Building a positive support network of people who don’t engage in substance use and are supportive of your sober lifestyle is key.

Engaging in fun, sober activities on a regular basis will help develop healthy habits that will lead to a healthy lifestyle.

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Have a healthy schedule.

Developing a healthy routine starts with a schedule. Structure creates a safe environment, which is especially helpful when unexpected temptations pop up. A schedule can help you run on autopilot, making proper choices out of habit,

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without the struggle.

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Relapse prevention involves spirituality. Lastly, when we are spiritually fit, we are able to turn over our problems, our lives, our schedules, and most importantly, our will over to the care of God. We realize His plans are better than our own, and we rely on His leading throughout our days.

If you do relapse, don’t fall into shame and view it as the ultimate failure. It is this type of thinking that will keep you sick.

Instead, take a look at what happened and use the event to help build a stronger foundation. Keep working your program of recovery, and know that your life has a beautiful purpose. «

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Always Second Chances In Albany, New York supported living situations. It is a place to start life fresh, clean and sober.

Advertisement

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very business is conceived from a thought and a dream. To progress from idea to successful business requires undying and unconditional nurturing and support. When a seed is planted beneath the soil all that is required is water, support and patience for it to grow into a beautiful and thriving plant or tree.

In addition to love and support, a business also requires sponsors and fundraising to help boost the business off the ground.

Even in recovery, it takes unconditional support and a sponsor to guide people along the right path again. In the recipe for recovery, there are two essential ingredients: unconditional support and tough love.

Addiction creates a series of potholes in our path, but then in recovery, tools are given to us to maintain and smooth out those potholes and pave the road ahead of us. Second Chances Opportunities, founded in 2001, began by helping and guiding newly recovered people get back into living in the real world again and has shifted into creating a housing opportunity, in 2007, of independent apartments with a supported living environment among other newly recovering individuals. It began as a recovery guidance program and grew into a supported housing program in addition to the guided lifestyles program.

These Second Chance recovery apartments are not halfway houses, they are independent apartments with

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SCO offers a place to live, with the chance to rediscover and “re-learn� how to live on your own while maintaining sobriety. There is an unspoken accountability with people who are living among other recovered people, whether they are familiar to each other or not.

Residents are assisted in budgeting their finances and taking their life back. SCO helps people how to juggle everyday life while sustaining sobriety.

There is no set time-frame to live in the recovery apartments, but the average stay is about two years. In two years, it gives people a feasible time-frame to get a steady routine going between working, meetings, and being accountable for their own finances until they feel a shift to move forward in another apartment or home. There is a zero tolerance with relapsing and anyone who relapses goes straight back to a treatment facility.

THE VISION AND EXPANSION PROJECT: SCO is fundraising money to set forth this vision into fruition. In recovery industry, the money doesn’t flow as swiftly as people hope it to be. Donations may be made by referring to her website as well as her other fundraising ideas such as selling t-shirts and even having more recovery concerts.

The vision comprises of 14 two-family homes with 83 beds total, with either four to six bedrooms in each house.

Among the recovery road creation, there will also be a community house that will be a place to meet up with each other

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for cooking classes, activities or to just sit and talk. Currently, there are two recovery houses and are to capacity with 12 beds. To help donate to the vision go to

AN INTRO

their website: www.happyjoyusandfree. com. To donate directly to the SCO project, go to the “Gofundme” website at: www.gofundme.com/bdsfm4.

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Association of

Recovery Schools

By ARS

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he Association of Recovery Schools (ARS) is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 that has been supporting Recovery High School efforts since 2002. We prepare and inspire starters and operators of Recovery High Schools to perform at their very best. We believe that while addiction thrives in isolation, recovery is a process of hope and healing that thrives in the positive peer communities of recovery schools.

Connected through principles, disciplines and tools that set the gold standard for educating and supporting students in recovery, ARS continues to collaborate with a broad and diverse global network through our membership. We provide a variety of expertise, resources and datadriven best practices to Recovery High Schools through training, consulting and accreditation services, while serving as advocates for the educational inclusion of youth recovery.

The oldest operating Recovery High School in the country is P.E.A.S.E. Academy, located in Minneapolis, MN.

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The school has supported hundreds of recovery students over the past twentyfive years. Helping each one navigate the challenges of high school through recovery support services.

The Bridgeway School, located in Philadelphia, PA, is another example of one of the thirty highly effective Recovery High Schools operating today. Founded in 2011, The Bridge Way School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and provides a challenging academic program for students in grades 9 – 12.

The school’s policies and procedures require and supports recovery utilizing 12-step principles and other recovery services. The school’s Founding Director, Rebecca Bonner, is honored to be at the helm of such an innovative program and welcomes inquires from those who may be interested in learning more about The Bridge Way School framework.

If you would like more information about the Association of Recovery Schools or want to support our efforts by joining ARS, please visit www.recoveryschools.org or email the Executive Director, Kristen Harper at kharper@recoveryschools.org.

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A Village of Recovery and Vision

By Carol Harblin

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t indeed takes a village to get things done, and Recovery Village is one of the steadfast supporters and sponsors of Rockers In Recovery 2014 concert series. Without sponsors, there would be no television programming, nor there would not be any concerts, shows, or sporting events anywhere. Sponsorship is a two-way street, just as how one hand washes the other. A helping hand goes a long way, particularly in recovery.

The founder of The Recovery Village, Mitchell Baumann, would never had thought Recovery Village would have been possible six years ago while he was going through his own treatment.

Baumann always had a vision for helping people and his drive and vision helped bring his success into fruition. His recovery anniversary will mark six years on December 7, 2014.

When people are first in treatment for their addiction, support and unconditional love makes the recovery process even more successful. Baumann’s biggest inspiration while going through treatment and his on-going recovery is his daughter.

His daughter redefined the meaning of support and love for him. She showed him her unconditional support and love, as well as tough love, every step of the way.

“Unconditional support is crucial,” agreed Baumann, about the successes of recovery, “In order to grow in recovery, we need emotional sobriety too.”

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Baumann’s two older brothers and his business partners have also proven tremendous support through his recovery and Recovery Village work.

Faith also played an integral role in his recovery success as well.

This July 6, 2014 will also celebrate the one-year anniversary of Recovery Village.

Baumann has not stopped dreaming and envisioning more for his village creation, because Recovery Village is growing.

Baumann has always wanted to give back to the youth and support them.

He is opening an adolescent facility in Sebring, Florida. In addition to helping adolescents, he also intends to open a spiritual and faith-based facility as well.

Faith and support are of equal importance in recovery, and part of Baumann’s vision is to create more faith-based facilities.

“We need more strong faith-based programs in recovery, in this country,” said Baumann, “There is a growing population [in recovery] who hold their religious and spiritual beliefs near their heart.”

Recovery Village helps those in need of drug and alcohol detoxification, prescription drug abuse, eating disorders, and also offers outpatient programs as well.

Recovery Village came into fruition after the realization that many clients with a dual diagnosis are in more need of support, without having to move to more than one facility to get that specialized care. The Recovery Village takes on a

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holistic approach to recovery in that they look at the whole person.

In addition to Cognitive Behavioral therapies and the use of the 12-step program, The Recovery Village also enhances its therapies to meditation, yoga, and spirituality. Recovery is about reconnecting with yourself again on a

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profoundly spiritual level.

To really make a strong impression and success in recovery, “You need to do whatever it takes and stop lying to yourself,” Baumann said, “You cannot make excuses anymore, and you just have to do it.” «

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