CREATING A RECOVERY-FRIENDLY

COMMUNITY

Presented at the First Annual Taos County Substance Abuse Summit

October 24, 2012

Presenter: Ed Cárdenas, LISW © 2012 Cárdenas and Associates

PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHTS:

Recovery

The 21st century recovery emphasizes that the individuals social context from the family to community can increase the risk of substance abuse or protect it. Intervention based on the awareness of social context emphasizes client empowerment and multi-dimensional treatment .

Judith A. Lewis, Ronert Q. Dana and Gregory A. Bevins, 2011

No solo de pan vivira el hombre (not only from bread does man live).

PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHTS:

Friendly

Has to do with respect and being supportive.

“El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz” (Respect to rights is peace).

Benito Juarez

Una mano lava la otra y las dos lavan la cara (One hand washes the other and both wash the face).

PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHTS:

Community

Is a body of people that interrelates ecologically for a common purpose.

“En la unión esta la fuerza (In unity there is strength).

…whether one member suffers, all members suffer with it, or if one member be honored all members rejoice with it.

I Cor 12:26

…si un miembro padece, todos los miembros se duelen con el, y si un miembro recibe honra, todos los miembros con el se gozan.

I Cor 12:26

Life Force

O Lead initiatives with loving creativityLet love be the foundation for action

V Explore creative means of expressing the force of love, personaly…professionally

E Give full license to creative impulses based on love, caring and compassion

Victor Beasley, PhD © 1992

A Conducir iniciativas con creatividad basadas en el amor

M Dejar que el amor sea la fundación sobre acción

O Explorar modos creativos para expresar la fuerza del amor personal y profesional

R Da libertad a los impulsos basados en amor,procuración y compación

Victor Beasley, PhD © 1992

Fuerza de Vida

The Austrian born Israeli philosopher,Martin Buber said:

“In spite of all similarities, every living situation has, like a newborn child, a new face, that has never been before or will never come again. It demands of you a reaction that cannot be prepared beforehand…”

El filósofo, Martin Buber de Israel, nacido en Austria dijo:

“Aun con toda semejanza, cada situación tiene, así como un niño recien nacido, una cara, qual nunca a existido ni existira otra vez. Así que se demanda una reacción por la cual no se puede preparar antemano.”

A SYSTEM is a whole with interrelated parts.

BALANCE is a must for any system to function properly.

When significant CHANGE takes place in any part of the system, there will be significant change in all parts, whether negative or positive.

A HUMP created by energy being drained from other system parts.

The effects of substance abuse on the individual, family, and community.

EFFECTS ON THE INDIVIDUAL:

→ Mental→ Emotional→ Physical→ Social→ Spiritual

INTERPERSONAL FAMILY EFFECTS:

→Conflict with Partner→Conflict with Children→Conflict over Economics→Emotional Trauma→Violence→Likely Patterns of Children Use→Health Risks

EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY:

→Substance Abuse is Found in 80% of Crime

→Health Related Problems→Safety→Strain on Medical System→Strain on Legal System→Loss of Cultural Traditions→Job Problems→Overload on Welfare System

RECOVERY:→Awareness→Ownership→Common Goal→A Plan→Action→A Systems Approach→Innovation

TRAITS OF A RECOVERY- FRIENDLY COMMUNITY:→Community Starts with Self

“Be the change you want to see in this world” -Gandhi

→Mental, Emotional, Physical, Social, and Spiritual Recovery→Family Involvement→Cultural Pride and Relevance→Economic Democracy→Education→Respect and Support→Include Elders→Positive Ecological Connections→TRUTH→LOVE

ETERNAL LOVE

…help me to distinguish what needs more of my attention and what has

consumed too much of me (us).

-The Upper Room