By Pam Dewey and Fraser Alcohol and Drug Counselor Claudy Corvil • substance use recovery, substance use, recovering from substance use, drug use, alcohol use, drug and alcohol use, substance recovery, drug recovery, alcohol recovery, recovering from substance use, substance abuse recovery, drug use recovery, drug treatment, alcohol treatment, drug and alcohol treatment, community support substance use, community support drug use, community support alcohol use • September 12, 2024
Many myths surround substance use disorder (SUD). One is that addiction only happens to certain people. Another is that you have to hit rock bottom before you start treatment. An equally pervasive myth is that addiction is a choice, and people can stop whenever they want.
“The reality is addiction can happen to anyone, no matter their race, upbringing, personality type or grade point average. There are genetic, social and psychological risk factors that can put some people at greater risk — but addiction has nothing to do with a person’s character,” says Claudy Corvil, Fraser alcohol and drug counselor.
While genetics can put people at greater risk for substance use, other life circumstances like trauma and mental health issues often contribute. Substance use disorder is a chronic disease, similar to heart disease, diabetes and cancer. That also means a person can’t necessarily stop whenever they want.
While in recovery, being engaged in and supported by a community is essential. However, this may not always be available from friends and family.
“Addiction often breaks relationships, both with families and friends, so it can take some time to build up that trust and those relationships again,” says Corvil.
People can connect with others who have gone through similar things in a recovery community, which fosters the development of a solid, long-lasting support system. It also allows them to benefit from others’ learned experiences and helps remind them that they aren’t alone.
Fraser Substance Use Disorder services offer support by connecting individuals with outside resources, including sober support meetings, events in the community and peer recovery specialists.
"People in recovery are not only looking for long-term solutions to make changes; they also want to reclaim feelings of joy, control and meaning,” says Corvil. “Finding a community can give perspective, so they can focus on what’s going wrong and how to move forward with your life.”
It’s also important for people with substance use disorder to find drug-free activities to enjoy. Many drug-free activities promote better physical and mental health, which, in turn, helps support recovery.
One community event that models hope and health is the Minnesota Recovery Connection’s Walk for Recovery on Sat., Sep. 21, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Minnesota State Capitol Grounds. Fraser Substance Use Disorder counselors will be participating in the event.
MinnesotaRecovery.org states, “The Walk for Recovery is an essential community event to model hope and break the stigma of addiction. All are welcome to participate!” It’s open to anyone who has been affected by substance use disorder or those who want to show support as a recovery ally. The event includes music, food, dance, art and fun activities, culminating in the Walk for Recovery event.
To pursue Fraser SUD services, call 612-767-7222 to set up an SUD comprehensive assessment. An SUD comprehensive assessment usually takes from 1½ -2 hours.
Fraser offers two SUD outpatient treatment options. The intensive outpatient treatment option meets for group therapy 3 days a week, and the individual also has 1 private individual session each week. The less-intensive treatment option meets for group therapy 1 day a week. Both sessions are available in person or through telehealth.