Heroes in Recovery is a movement started by the Foundations Recovery Network and people who are in recovery from addiction and co-occurring disorders. There are 23 million people every year who need addiction treatment but only three million actually get help. Heroes in Recovery is an effort to reach the other 20 million, who may be refusing help because of the stigma surrounding mental health disorders and substance abuse. They offer a platform to share recovery stories and break the stigma.
The Stigma
For decades addicts were only thought of as bad people who choose to continue to abuse substances, even associated with criminal activity. A study done by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in 2014, the general public was more likely to have negative attitudes towards those dealing with drug addiction than those who were dealing with mental illness. Researchers also found that people don’t generally support insurance, housing, and employment policies that benefited people who were substance addicts. Many people don’t think that someone they know or love or even themselves can become addicted to substances. Even after the first time doing crack cocaine a user can become addicted or overdose. Addiction does get worse with more and more use as well as a building tolerance for the substance. However, there are constant discoveries about the effects of drugs on the human brain, body, and how to treat addiction in the best possible way. A relatively new development is a new understanding of co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis. Co-occurring disorders are when someone is diagnosed with a mental health disorder as well as an alcohol or drug use dependence. Many people who suffer from mental health issues and do not receive the correct treatment may themselves start using different substances to self-medicate and thus become addicts as well. Over the centuries situations and stigmas about mental health disorders have improved immensely. The development of psychology and psychiatry have helped the general public and even those suffering with the disorder to understand what is happening in the mind. Discoveries of the human brain, neurotransmitters and how they affect the brain and body also offer more understanding and even ideas for treatments for these illnesses. These disorders are scientifically proven and treatments have been found that offer the patients a long and healthy life.
The Movement
Heroes in Recovery is trying to help break down the social stigma surrounding addiction and mental health issues. By breaking away the stigma thousands of people may find the courage and support to seek help for their addiction and/or mental health issues. They may find the encouragement and inspiration they need in reading others stories who have been through similar or even the same situation. They will also have access to a sober community to engage with and find empowerment to get involved, give back, and live healthy, sober lives. By reading the thousands of stories, those struggling with addiction can see that there is a life after recovery. It is a place to celebrate sobriety and emphasizes the important effort it takes everyday to remain sobriety. They also have social media sites so that you can be a part of the movement in your everyday life.
In 2011, Heroes in Recovery held their first 6k race in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. Instead of the typical 5k race, Heroes in Recovery had a 6k race to symbolize the extra work it takes to maintain sobriety and represent each of the letters in HEROES. Since 2011, Heroes in Recovery has held many other 6k races throughout the nation to help bring awareness to their cause and to help break the stigma. Every year the number of races and the number of participants grows. There next three 6k races are in Portland, Oregon; San Diego, California; and Gilbert, Arizona. These races also help create communities in new areas. They offer a chance for people to come together and work together to help others as well.
How to Help
The races, social media, and storytelling that Heroes in Recovery uses are all ways of breaking the stigma and offering others the chance to help others in similar situations. Their website, http://heroesinrecovery.com, currently has over 1,400 stories from other recovering addicts. These stories are from a variety of people who talk about finding the strength to start and continue their recovery. These stories also help create a global community of support for those struggling with the addiction or mental health issues, those in recovery, and their families. They are real stories, from real people, that suffer from the very real same problems. They have stories divided into categories to help you find what you find helpful quickly. They have alcohol, drugs, friends and family, faith, mental health, and other addiction categories. Sometimes reading about the courage and strength someone in a similar situation had and how they overcame their addiction can help you confront your own addiction and find your own courage and strength.
