Recovery community

A Stigma Journey: From Abstinence to Harm Reduction (Original Article)

A Stigma Journey: From Abstinence to Harm Reduction (Original Article)

On Our Own’s new training specialist, Nina Ovian, reflects on her changing relationship with substance use and stigma. Nina has been a long-time advocate for harm reduction and discusses how shifting away from abstinence-only recovery allowed her to heal from internalized stigma.

Sex Workers and the Harm Reduction Movement - Part One

Sex Workers and the Harm Reduction Movement - Part One

Experts on Sex Worker rights and Harm Reduction weigh in on the similarities between the two movements and how they can best support each other in achieving shared goals. While not addressing stigma directly, this article serves to highlight how stigma has left many people out of the harm reduction conversation and why this topic of the month includes articles on both substance use and sex work.

Food Became my Best Friend- Males with Eating Disorders Share their Stories

Food Became my Best Friend- Males with Eating Disorders Share their Stories

In this video, three men share their stories of eating disorder recovery along with with male eating disorder expert, Dr. Nicholas Farrell. The National Association of Eating Disorders (NEDA) says, “Despite the stereotype that eating disorders only occur in women, about one in three people struggling with an eating disorder is male… But due in large part to cultural bias, they are much less likely to seek treatment for their eating disorder. Several factors lead to men and boys being under- and undiagnosed for an eating disorder,” one of which is double stigma “for having a disorder characterized as feminine or gay and for seeking psychological help.” Click “Read More” for more from the National Association of Eating Disorders.

Embracing Pride and the LGBT+ Community in Recovery

Tessa Torgeson shares her personal experience as a member of the LGBT+ community who is also in recovery from addiction. “For myself, the intersections of addiction and LGBT identity are so complex… We weren't given the social or political power to have public space. So, bars and underground clubs were our space... so addiction can sometimes become a learned behavior. For me, it was alcohol. I used it to suppress my identity.”

How to welcome back a colleague who is in recovery

"A good first step toward successfully supporting a person in recovery is to honestly examine your own beliefs and feelings about addiction, and to make sure that your response to the colleague you are about to welcome back isn’t hampered by any hidden negative attitudes." Are you seeing clearly? Take some time to refocus and look again. Click the “Source” link for the full article from Harvard Health Blog.

Innovator Profile: Trama, Addiction, Mental Health And Recovery (TAMAR)

“TAMAR (Trauma, Addiction, Mental Health and Recovery) is a trauma-focused program for women that has been implemented in select Maryland detention centers.  The TAMAR program aims to provide appropriate services to trauma victims and break the cycle of substance abuse, arrest, and incarceration.”