THIS THANKSGIVING, ADDICTION RECOVERY CARE OFFERS ADVICE ON HOW TO BEST SUPPORT FAMILY MEMBERS & LOVED ONES STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE
With temperatures dropping and the holiday season in full swing, Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) is reminding Kentuckians that this can be a particularly difficult time for individuals with substance use disorders and those in recovery. To help, ARC, which has more than 30 inpatient and outpatient treatment programs throughout Eastern and Central Kentucky, is offering advice on how to best support the people in your life who may be struggling with substance use.
As part of this educational effort, the organization held its first Family Forum of the season on Tuesday evening. During the one-hour webinar, participants had the opportunity to hear directly from ARC leadership.
“There are few diseases more destructive for a family than addiction,” said Pat Fogarty, ARC’s senior vice president of operations who led Tuesday’s Family Forum.
Fogarty, who is in recovery himself, encouraged family members to enable their loved one’s recovery, rather than their addiction.
“Professional help is everywhere today. The recovery industry has grown significantly over the last several years, and there are a wide array of people who can help,” said Fogarty. “Family members also have to take care of themselves. In many cases, the anxiety that comes with loving an individual with a substance use disorder can make you just as sick as your loved one. You need your own support system to help you through this process, just as your loved one needs their own support system.”
For family members of individuals who have entered treatment, Fogarty recommended becoming educated and informed on the individual’s treatment plan and their goals. He also advised against picking up loved ones from treatment before they’ve completed the process, as this can be detrimental to their short- and long-term success.
“Nationwide, the vast majority of people who leave treatment against medical advice are doing so very early in the process—long before treatment can make an impact,” said Fogarty. “No matter what a person has struggled with or been through, there is so much opportunity and potential for them in recovery, but we need to allow that process to happen.”
Last week, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated a staggering 54-percent increase in Kentucky drug overdose deaths between April 2020 and April 2021 compared to the previous 12-month period. More than 100,000 people nationwide lost their lives to drug overdose deaths during that time.
“We cannot forget that there are real people behind these statistics,” said Erin Fogarty, director of external communications for ARC. “These are our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles and neighbors and friends. Taking the time to share some grace and love with someone who’s struggling this holiday season can truly make a difference.”
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About Addiction Recovery Care (ARC)
Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) operates a network of more than 38 addiction treatment centers in 16 Eastern and Central Kentucky counties. The organization, headquartered in Louisa, Kentucky, offers a full continuum of care including withdrawal management, long-term residential treatment, intensive outpatient, outpatient, medically assisted treatment (MAT), vocational rehabilitation and job training. The treatment centers are holistic with CARF-accredited clinical programs, medical services directed by an addiction psychiatrist, a spiritual emphasis that includes the 12 steps and chaplaincy care and a broadening scope of vocational training opportunities for clients.
ARC has a focus on providing Treatment on Demand to ensure individuals receive treatment immediately without delay. This process includes quick enrollment into programs and transportation provided by ARC to one of our facilities. Individuals will have a clinical and medical assessment within 24 hours of arrival.
These loved ones of ours, yes, I said OURS, are not struggling with substance use, they are ABUSING DRUGS. They steal from their families. They steal from their neighbors. Drugs are what they live for, with no consideration for anything except their own devices. We have love for them, but they have no love for us. The only way we can help them is to tell them the truth and stand firm.
Right on AD. Im with ya!! LGB !!