People Like Me: Mutual Aid and Recovery from Substance Use Disorders

“People Like Me: Mutual Aid and Recovery from Substance Use Disorders” will be presented on Tuesday June 16, 2020; 7:30pm-9:00pm, by Todd Diana, Dawn Farm Recovery Support Specialist; and a panel. Since the 1700’s people have banded together to help each other recover from substance use disorders. Today, people seeking peer support for recovery from substance use disorders, as well as family members and friends of people with substance use disorders, have an expansive menu of mutual aid groups they can participate in. As recovery from substance use disorders has been recognized as an ongoing life-long process, the organizing principle for providing care for people with substance use disorders has shifted to a long-term recovery paradigm, and mutual aid groups can fill the need for affordable long-term support. Research repeatedly demonstrates that active involvement in mutual aid recovery groups significantly improves a person’s chances of long-term recovery and supports the effectiveness and practical impact of mutual aid groups. SAMHSA acknowledges mutual aid facilitation as an evidence-based modality. For people seeking recovery support, mutual aid groups often provide a sense of belonging, understanding, acceptance and connection as well as practical help and support. This presentation will provide an overview of the history, development and current status of mutual aid recovery programs in the USA, and the research supporting the efficacy of mutual aid participation in supporting sustained recovery. The program will include a panel discussion by members of a sampling of substance use disorder recovery mutual aid programs. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual education series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about substance use disorders, recovery, family and related issues; and to dispel the myths, misinformation, secrecy, shame and stigma that prevent people with addiction and their families from getting help and getting well.  All programs are free and open to anyone interested.  Registration is not required. 1.5 hours of free C.E. approved by MCBAP (Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals) is provided. A certificate to document attendance is provided on request. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of services for people with substance use disorders. For information, please contact Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or [email protected], or see http://www.dawnfarmeducation.org.

Location: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center Auditorium (ground floor,) 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197.