Guilt. Fear. Shame. Disappointment. Are these emotions what we want our patients to feel when they visit us in the clinic or the emergency department? No. We want them to feel safe, heard, cared for, and wanted. Unfortunately, for patients with substance use disorder (SUD) or even those in recovery, some providers may have trouble putting their judgments aside to give patients the help they need to treat their illness and stay healthy.
September is National Recovery Month, which serves as an important reminder to be mindful of the ways we think about, interact with, and treat patients who are struggling with addiction and those who are in recovery. Patients should not have to defend themselves if they are entering a clinic or hospital to get help. The main priority should be to provide them with the help that they need. All of the judgments and opinions should be put aside.
The Impact of Substance Use Disorders
Fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for individuals aged 18 to 47. People are beginning to mix various other substances, like xylazine, an animal tranquilizer used by veterinarians, with fentanyl without truly knowing the consequences or side effects. Some of these substances are resistant to Naloxone and undetectable in some drug tests, which adds a new layer of complexity to the issue.
Mixing foreign substances is dangerous, especially for those trying to quit who still want a small fix to prevent withdrawals. Even a small dose of fentanyl mixed with a foreign substance can cause severe bodily harm and even death. In rural communities, especially here in Arkansas, it can be hard for individuals who overdose to get help quickly.
An Uphill Battle
A person struggling with addiction faces a personal battle with themselves. “When you’re caught by addiction, your brain’s pleasure and reward system is re-wired. Drugs and alcohol can become more important than food and water. You feel like you need them just to survive,” says Dangie Casper, an AFMC Advanced Peer Support Specialist and person in recovery.
Drugs affect the basal ganglia, which helps you experience the pleasurable effects of healthy activities like socializing, laughing, and eating. Drugs over-stimulate the brain’s reward system, producing a euphoric high. With repeated exposure to drugs, however, the basal ganglia begin to adapt to the presence of the drug, making it harder to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug.
“Because of this re-wiring, a person struggling with addiction lives by the equation pain + drug = relief. In that state of mind, it’s hard not to use because your wires are all crossed,” Dangie says. “You know what the outcome is going to be, but you use anyway because you haven’t learned any healthy coping skills.” The thought process isn’t about not wanting to use, it’s about not knowing how to find healthy alternatives to using drugs and alcohol.
Those who struggle with addiction need care just like any other patient does, and it’s our job to encourage providers to cast their judgments aside and provide that care
“The first step in quitting is learning how not to use, and that’s a challenge itself,” Dangie explains. “Even when you do get sober, you are still sick. You still have those thoughts about using, and, in some cases, you slip up.” One of the biggest issues people with substance use disorder face is the stigma surrounding their addiction.
There has been a persistent negative view toward individuals who struggle with addiction. Some may wonder why these individuals don’t just stop taking drugs or alcohol. They may believe that a person struggling with addiction has more control over their actions than they actually do.
This judgment is, unfortunately, also present among the provider community. While some care providers do face risks in treating individuals who struggle with addiction, there are resources designed to help mitigate these risks and help change the perception, interaction, and care of individuals with substance use disorder.
Peer Support Specialists Pave the Way for Change
It is critical that providers connect patients with resources and community-based organizations designed to help them stay on the path of recovery. Peer Support Specialists across the state are working to help end stigma and educate the public on the lived experience of addiction and recovery.
In 2018, AFMC partnered with the state of Arkansas to implement a peer support program as a way to provide support and raise awareness for those struggling with addiction throughout the state.
Peer Support Specialists act as the bridge-builders between providers and patients who struggle with addiction. They also speak with judges, community leaders, police officers, firefighters, and any individual present in an individual’s recovery journey to inform change and enhance the public perception of addiction.
“We are recovering out loud, turning our mess into a message and our past into purpose,” Dangie says. By encouraging providers to shift their terminology and practice patient-centered care, Peer Support Specialists play an important role in being advocates for individuals struggling with addiction.
The thought process isn’t about not wanting to use, it’s about not knowing how to find healthy alternatives to using drugs and alcohol.
“Peer Support Specialists are not just individuals with lived experience,” Dangie says. “We must meet certain criteria in order to earn a Peer Support Specialist certification from the state of Arkansas.”
Peer Support Specialists must be sober for an extended period of time, have a high school diploma, and complete the necessary training before they are certified. Peer recovery specialist programs provide an opportunity for individuals in recovery to have a voice and turn their lived experience into professional expertise for others who are struggling.
“Those who struggle with addiction need care just like any other patient does, and it’s our job to encourage providers to cast their judgments aside and provide that care,” Dangie says. “As a provider, you can’t allow yourself to fall into the thought process that these patients will never change. Regardless of how many times they come in for treatment, you never know when the lightbulb is going to go off.”
All it takes is one interaction for an individual to learn healthy coping strategies and begin their recovery journey.
Other Community Resources
AFMC RCORP. AFMC’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) is a multi-year initiative that addresses barriers to treatment for substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder, in Arkansas. Learn more about the RCORP and access our various resources to help end the opioid epidemic.
Northeast Arkansas Divine Intervention. Located in Jonesboro, NEA Divine Intervention is one of four recovery community organizations in Arkansas. Dedicated to providing women with the tools, environment, and employment they need to achieve and maintain long-term sobriety, NEA Divine Intervention also offers a residence for women to live with support in a residential community.
Mental Health & Addiction Support Line. When seeking help for mental health or addiction services for a patient or a loved one, the first step is to find a service provider in the community who can help. AFMC, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), maintains a Mental Health & Addiction Support Line at 1-844-763-0198 to assist individuals in finding a provider in their area. After locating a provider, individuals can continue to call the support line for confidential assistance 24/7.
Department of Human Services Resources. The DHS Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services lists other available resources for assessment services, individual, group, family, and child counseling, and mental health services. These resources all provide easy access to services for individuals in any stage of the recovery process and even in times of crisis.
Celebrate Success
Faces and Voices of Recovery has celebrated National Recovery Month every September for the last 30 years. Last year’s theme, “Every Person. Every Family. Every Community.” is now their permanent tagline, a message that shows how every person plays a vital role in recovery.
National Recovery Month celebrates the progress made by those in recovery from substance abuse and mental health, as well as improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions. This year, it’s important to remember the dedication of service providers and community members who play a part in recovery.
Download their resources for community outreach and ways to celebrate National Recovery Month.
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{slider title="Meet Dangie Casper"}
Dangie Casper is a certified Advanced Peer Recovery Specialist at Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC). Through lived and professional experience, Dangie is dedicated to advocating for clients undergoing addiction recovery. She empowers and assists them with creating and setting meaningful goals that contribute toward their complete recovery, offers support and guidance on navigating the mental health system, and identifies and builds supportive resources and community allies.
Dangie earned her certification through the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. She has an educational background in nursing and sports medicine.
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