People want and need to be able to speak about substance use and 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 becoming sound or healthy.  Just answer “the call” you are now on your journey – a Hero’s Journey. 

Understanding Recovery

• Parent Resource Center. 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 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. 

• Alano Club of Portland. To provide a welcoming, compassionate, and accessible recovery support environment 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 educational requirements, no dues or fees, and AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, political party, organization, or institution. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her substance use disorder.

• 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.

• 4th Dimension Recovery Center for Young Adults in Oregon. 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.

• My Recovery, sharing experience, strength, and hope. Blogs, resources, and 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 drive breakthroughs through 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 complete 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.

High Schools with recovert 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 is 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.

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 actively pursuing higher education at the UO who are interested in recovery. 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 input from 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 in recovery 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.