People want and need to be able to speak about substance use/mental health disorders but it takes all of us to understand and encourage the process of sharing our stories and experiences – it’s time to inspire others!

When we heal we find sharing our experience, strength, and hope gives others something to hold on to.  Be an advocate to everyone – everywhere.  Take a chance and share your story.

Hope = Healing = Recovery.  Hope is having faith that the path of recovery leads to healing.  Healing is the process of making or becoming sound or healthy .  Just answer “the call” you are now on your journey – a Hero’s Journey. 

• Recovery Toolkit, William White Research Consultant. This site will answer questions, give perspective, and support next steps.

• Shatterproof – Recovery: After completing initial treatment for a substance use disorder, the recovery journey begins. Learn about the steps along the way, and get the information you need to help yourself or your loved one move forward.

• Family Resource Center – Recovery: For those who have a substance use disorder and find themselves at the end of an acute treatment episode of care, little to no monitoring or continuing care is provided. Research shows that there is no reliable cure, thus a fixed period of protected residential care or outpatient treatment is not by itself likely to arrest use and promote healthy adjustment in the long term. Like any other chronic illness that can be managed but not cured — substance use disorders require a period of continued monitoring and support beyond rehab

• Addiction Policy Forum – Recovery, can be difficult and is most successful with a strong support network, but there is help for people who are moving on from substance use disorders. Learn more about the importance of continuing care, support networks, and peer coaching to positively impact the recovery process.

• Continuing Care: A Parent’s Guide to Your Teen’s Recovery From Substance Abuse answers families’ most pressing questions about how to best support their teen’s recovery following treatment.

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) Recovery is a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.

Below are a few of the many ways an individual, family, and community can support lifelong recovery.

Over 23.5 million Americans are currently living in recovery from addiction – and they have found multiple pathways to get well from alcohol and other drug problems. In order to help those still in the grips of an active substance use disorder, as well as the family members and other loved ones who spend endless hours trying to support and help them, it is imperative that the many pathways to recovery become more widely understood. 

• Center for Motivation and Change. Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) teaches family and friends effective strategies for helping their loved one to change and for feeling better themselves. CRAFT is a skills-based program that impacts families in multiple areas of their lives, including self-care, pleasurable activities, problem solving, and goal setting. At the same time, CRAFT addresses their loved one’s resistance to change. CRAFT teaches families behavioral and motivational strategies for interacting with their loved one.

• Continuing Care: A Parent’s Guide to Your Teen’s Recovery. This online, interactive guide addresses families’ questions about how to best support their teen’s recovery following substance abuse treatment or being in an environment that requires abstinence. Once a child returns home from such a program, many parents may feel uncertain and ill-prepared in terms of what to expect from their child, and how to support effective aftercare.

• Alano Club of Portland – To provide a welcoming, compassionate, and accessible recovery support environments for individuals and families recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction, and other addictive disorders. This is done through events, advocacy, and recovery meetings.

• Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It’s a nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements, no dues, or fees, and AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her substance use disorder.

  • Here are the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, with an explanation of the significance of each step.

• Marijuana Anonymous, is a fellowship of people who share our experience, strength, and hope with each other that we may solve our common problem and help others to recover from marijuana addiction.

• AL-ANON, You are welcome at any meeting. Your inquiry and attendance at meetings are confidential and anonymous. Whether the person in your life is still drinking/drugging or not, Al-Anon offers hope and recovery to all people affected by the substance use disorder of a loved one or friend.

• ALATEEN, Young people aged 13 to 18 who have been affected by someone else’s drinking/drugging are invited to share experience, strength, and hope with other teens. When there are no Alateen meetings available in the area, teens are welcome in Al-Anon meetings too. Teenagers between 13 to 18 years old can also register to attend the Alateen Chat meetings.

• Celebrate Recovery, is all about pointing us back to the Beatitudes; Jesus’ instructions on how to live a good, productive life in recovery.

• GriefShare, Recovery Support Groups is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.

• The Herren Project expanded treatment navigation services in 2016 to include online support groups. The support groups are moderated by licensed social workers and trained facilitators. All groups meet via online video classroom bringing together participants weekly for an hour session that includes a topic for discussion and peer to peer support. Current support group offerings include family support groups, a WRAP group as well as support for grief and loss due to the disease of addiction. All groups are at no cost due to the generosity of THP donors.

• 4th Dimension Recovery Center for Young Adults. Provide and cultivate an atmosphere of recovery where all young people can overcome drug addiction and alcoholism through social interactions with recovery communities and 4D recovery mentor services. (PDX and Hillsboro Locations)

• MindTree Holistic Counseling, treats the person as a whole, by integrating the healing of mind and Body. We believe in the philosophy that mind and body do not operate separately, rather interdependently. You can gain greater physical health and mental well being when the mind and body are connected.

  At MindTree we have a team of independent providers who create holistic treatments that addresses your physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. A multi – disciplinary approach is implemented which includes but not limited to Counseling, Yoga, Energy healing, Ayurveda, Lifestyle, Nutrition and other wellness services into your treatments. We provide collaborative health care to your mind, body and soul.

• Surya Chandra Retreat Center. We are a unique Day Retreat Center that has the expertise of a Psychiatrist and Neurologist husband and wife team to take yoga, meditation and mindfulness to the next spiritual level. The Retreat Center is a Group and Individual program which is tailor made for your mental health and spiritual needs. We address the healing you have yet to access. We offer non traditional ways to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders and other forms of trauma in a unique setting.

• My Recovery, sharing experience, strength, and hope. Blogs, resources, online meetings.

• In the Rooms, World’s Largest, Online Social Network for the Global Recovery Community. InTheRooms is for people already in Recovery, Seeking Immediate Help from any Addiction, and their Family, Friends, and Allies.

• Refuge Recovery, A Buddhist path to recovery.

• SMART Recovery, Self Management, and recovery training.

• Narcotics Anonymous, If you’re an addict, NA can help. “Narcotics Anonymous offers recovery to addicts around the world. We focus on the disease of addiction rather than any particular drug. Our message is broad enough to attract addicts from any social class or nationality. When new members come to meetings, our sole interest is in their desire for freedom from active addiction and how we can be of help.” (It Works: How and Why “Third Tradition”)

  • If you’re planning to attend your first meeting, you may also be interested in IP #29,“An Introduction to NA Meetings.”

• Families Anonymous is a 12 Step Fellowship for family and friends of those individuals with Drug, Alcohol or Behavioral issues. We are here to help!

• Co-Dependents Anonymous

• Adult Children of Alcoholics, Never before in the history of Twelve Step programs has a fellowship brought together such a diverse group of recovering people that includes adult children of alcoholics, codependents, and addicts of various sorts. The program is Adult Children of Alcoholics. The term “adult child” is used to describe adults who grew up in alcoholic or dysfunctional homes and who exhibit identifiable traits that reveal past abuse or neglect.

• Youth ERA works to empower young people and create breakthroughs with the dedicated systems that serve them.

• The Phoenix, Sober Active Community, Physical Health. This is an example we could create in our area – work out, find community and overall health.

  • Bend, OR. The only requirement for attending your first Phoenix event is 48 hours of continuous sobriety. First-time attendees are asked to sign a Team Member Agreement and Waiver and to fill out an Enrollment Form.

• Free on the Outside. We work with prison fellowship as a bridge church, providing mentoring and support services to bridge the gap so God’s children don’t get lost before they make it home to a home church. Come home to Free on the Outside, find a place of service and belonging.

• Parents of Addicted Children Together (PACT),

  • Anonymous Support Group Meeting
    Unaffiliated with any 12-step group or other organization, including any substance abuse issue.
    Meets on 2nd & 4th Tuesday each month
    First Baptist Church, 224 West Powell, Gresham, OR
    Led by Gary Swoboda
    For more info: Call Gary at 503-810-1441.

• Parenting a Child with Addiction, Where love and addiction meet. We all need to take a close look at the things we don’t want to look at—the things lurking around in this place where love and addiction meet—so we’re as strong as we can be. My wish is that the “ponderments” contained within my book, Tending Dandelions, and here in this blog—the thoughts laid bare for you to think about—will help you achieve that.

• Heroes in Recovery, Heroes in Recovery has a simple mission: to eliminate the social stigma that keeps individuals with addiction and mental health issues from seeking help, to share stories of recovery for the purpose of encouragement and inspiration, and to create an engaged sober community that empowers people to get involved, give back, and live healthy, active lives.

• Oregon Recovers, is an inclusive statewide coalition comprised of people in recovery–and their friends and family—uniting to transform Oregon healthcare to ensure world-class prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for Oregonians suffering from the disease of addiction.

• Shattering Stigma with Stories, seeks to help parents, school districts, faith communities and other organizations open dialogues and create safe spaces around mental health and mental illness, increasing community and connection for those in their midst who are struggling with these issues. We seek to create that conversation both online and through Shattering Stigma events.

• Faces and Voices of Recovery – dedicated to organizing and mobilizing people in recovery, our families, friends, and allies into recovery community organizations and networks, to promote the right and resources to recover through advocacy, education and demonstrating the power and proof of long-term recovery.

• Many Faces 1 Voice. We are moms and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters – all bringing the power and proof of recovery to our communities. Together we will change public perception, and ultimately the public response to the addiction crisis…FOREVER. Will you join us?

High Schools with support that is specific to the Student

• Harmony Academy: As a tuition-free public charter school, Harmony Academy’s primary focus is helping students earn their diplomas. So is supporting happy teenagers. Our comprehensive recovery program includes services and guidance for healthy brains, bodies, and hearts tailored to each student.

• Rivercrest Academy, a school of choice, provides a path that fosters personal agency and community connection to guide youth in meeting their academic and personal goals toward post-secondary careers and learning.

  • Association of Recovery Schools, an organization comprised of recovery high schools as well as associate members and individuals who support the integral growth of the recovery high school movement.

  • Generation Found Film

• Alliance Charter Academy is a charter school in Oregon City that provides a tailor-made, parent-driven, student-centered education for its students. We understand that each child is unique, and our educational options are modeled after a university education. In our model, each child chooses classes from an annually published “Schedule of Classes,” perfectly tailoring their education to their needs. We believe in the unique abilities of our children and strive to foster their innate abilities.

• Park Academy is a college preparatory school for students challenged with dyslexia and other language-related learning differences.

Alternative Peer Groups, recovery support for teens and their families

• Collective Roots is an Alternative Peer Group model providing positive peer engagement through prosocial activities, family engagement, and group and individual counseling. We have found that success in teenage recovery depends upon relatability. As a result, we sought to develop a staff and a community that has experienced sobriety at a young age and can relate to the difficulties that come with it.

  •  Association of Alternative Peer Groups to develop and sustain alternative peer groups that support recovery.

Collegiate Recovery Programs

• The Haven at College team is committed to helping college-age adults in recovery from drug and alcohol misuse. We’re also committed to ending the stigma around addiction. Our broad clinical expertise and innovative recovery programs help college students get back on track. Our personal passion for recovery inspires students to embrace college life, drug, and alcohol-free.

• Association of Recovery in Higher Education The Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE) is the only association exclusively representing collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) and communities (CRCs), the faculty and staff who support them, and the students who represent them.

• JED Campus is an initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED) designed to guide schools through a collaborative process of comprehensive systems, programs, and policy development with customized support to build upon existing student mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention efforts.

  • TO STUDENTS: This guide is written to provide important information about mental health during college. We encourage you to read this guide, learn from it, and use it to start and continue a conversation about mental health.

  • TO PARENTS: This guide is for you, too. It’s important to know more about mental health during the college years and proactive steps that can help you support your student if needed.

Oregon’s College Recovery Programs

• Collegiate Recovery Center (CRC) at the University of Oregon. provides an affirming environment where recovering students can successfully pursue academic, personal, and professional goals. Students carry these experiences with them as they transition toward becoming vibrant community leaders. The CRC is open to all students interested in recovery actively pursuing higher education at the UO. You do not need to be a member to access many CRC services; all students are welcome.

• Collegiate Recovery Community, Oregon State University. We believe that students in recovery should have a college environment free from shame and stigma, with support and services tailored to their needs and designed with the aid of other students in recovery.

• College Excel is a comprehensive, residential, coaching-based college support program in Bend, Oregon. Our certified coaches, learning specialists, professors, and wellness experts provide students with the daily structure, support, and guidance they need to succeed academically and personally while earning college credits at Central Oregon Community College or Oregon State University-Cascades.

• CORE, the Community of Recovery in Education at Southern Oregon University, supports and promotes the academic success, recovery, and well-being of SOU students recovering from addiction by providing an authentic student-centered community and robust recovery support services and programming.

• SMART Recovery at Clackamas Community College is an anonymous self-help group for those with an addiction. SMART stands for Self-Management And Recovery Training. The CCC SMART Recovery group is open to anyone who would like to learn tools for dealing with addiction and, in general, offers good coping skills and training that would benefit most people. All are welcome.

  • We take mental health and wellness seriously. That’s why we offer free counseling services to our students. Find the Counseling office in the Community Center or make an appointment. We can help if you’re struggling and need therapy, advice, or resources.

Young Adult Youth Recovery Center

4th Dimension Recovery Center provides and cultivates an atmosphere of recovery where all young people can overcome drug addiction and alcoholism through social interactions with recovery communities and 4D recovery mentor services.

• Breaking the Cycles, together we can end the stigma, misinformation, and shame that keep over 120 million Americans stuck fighting something they truly don’t understand.

• Young People in Recovery, YPR chapters and their partners across the country are working to make their communities recovery-ready. A community that is recovery-ready provides the entire continuum of support to those in or seeking recovery and their allies.

• National Empowerment Center. To carry a message of recovery, empowerment, hope, and healing to people with lived experience with mental health issues, trauma, and extreme states.

• Heroes in Recovery is a movement ignited by Foundations Recovery Network and the wider community of those who are in recovery from addiction and co-occurring disorders. We discovered that while 23 million people each year need help for addiction, only three million actually seek treatment. We’re looking to reach the other 20 million– those who may not be seeking help due to the overwhelming stigma that often surrounds substance use and mental health disorders.

• Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation addiction causes families.

• The Herren Project. The mission of The Herren Project is to provide assistance in taking the first steps toward recovery and a life of sobriety, educational programs, and resources to increase awareness on the signs of addiction and bring hope for a better tomorrow.

  • Project Purple initiative was launched to break the stigma of addiction, bring awareness to the dangers of substance abuse and encourage positive decision making to navigate life’s challenges.

• National Association of Children of Addiction, Family Recovery.

• Family Recovery Advocacy, sharing the family experience of survival and reconciliation can serve as a powerful antidote to the perceived hopelessness that has historically shrouded the impact of substance use and addiction disorders in our culture.

• William White, articles, blog, books – EVERYTHING RECOVERY!

• I Love Recovery Café, blogs from people in recovery.

• InRecovery, Magazine/online resource

• Growing up Chaotic, living beyond the Chaos. A community of family and friends of addiction/alcoholism

• Being the Child of an Alcoholic is a thing.

• Many Faces 1 Voice. We are moms and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters – all bringing the power and proof of recovery to our communities. Together we will change public perception, and ultimately the public response to the addiction crisis…FOREVER. Will you join us?

• Surya Chandra Center, The Retreat Center is a Group and Individual program which is tailor-made for your mental health and spiritual needs. We address the healing you have yet to access.

• Peace in Schools, Offered – teen programs and adult courses. Our teachings center around the core values of authenticity, compassion, presence, and awareness. While each teacher has come to the practice of embodying these core principles through various contemplative avenues, what unites us, and what we bring to those we work with, are values that are accessible, available, and inherent in us all.

• Stop, Breath, Think, Help kids discover their superpowers of quiet, focus and peaceful sleep with our easy-to-use app!

• Mindful, taking time for what matters. Dedicated to inspiring, guiding, and connecting anyone who wants to explore mindfulness—to enjoy better health, more caring relationships, and a compassionate society.

• The Daily Pledge, Supporting and celebrating healthier, more loving and meaningful lives and families, free from addiction, one day and hug at a time!

• Sober Grid, a tool/app for staying sober – your sober social network.

• Mind Body Green, mindfulness is a way of life. Learn how to infuse presence, intention, and awareness into everything you do.