SMART believes there are multiple pathways to recovery...but does that go as far as including the use of intelligent retrieval technology, aka artificial intelligence? According to Zachary Gidwitz, CEO and Cofounder of the company Open Recovery, the answer is a resounding yes.  In this podcast, Zachary shares his personal recovery journey and how he ended up as part of a team that birthed Kai, the AI-powered recovery assistant that is now busy interacting with human individuals seeking recovery. At this point Kai is focused on 12-Step methodology, but Open Recovery is collaborating with SMART to provide information and resources to expand Kai's understanding that our self-empowered, practical recovery tools are a powerful pathway to change.        

Nick Padlo only went to the college recruiting event for the promise of free food at his favorite restaurant. It turned out that no food was served, but a 3 minute video that was shown ended up changing the course of his life. It was a US Army recruitment video and Nick went on to attend West Point, serve in combat overseas, and launch a business career from there. A good measure of success took place but other aspects of his life disinigrated. He ended up divorced and despondent, his accelerating substance and alcohol misuse part of the downward spiral. Eventually he decided he needed help and found a path that combined SMART Recovery and 12-Step programs. It transformed his view of his life's purpose and he decided to use his entrepreneurial skills to start Sophros Recovery a treatment center in his hometown of Jacksonville Florida. In this podcast, Nick talks about the quest for perfection that nearly ruined him, his application of recovery tools to the wider realm of mental health, and why he believes everyone can find their way back to health. 

Angelo Lagares is the Founder and Director of Latino Recovery Advocates (LARA), a nonprofit organization that works to make policy changes that will increase culturally appropriate recovery services. LARA's vision is of a world where no one suffers from language disparities when it comes to getting help.   Angelo's story includes lived experience and many attempts to change his addictive behavior. His journey convinced him that too often there is a lack of access to relevant treatment and support systems for individuals who want help. That is why he works all over the world, sharing the message of multiple pathways to recovery for all cultures.  In this podcast, Angelo talks about his personal recovery journey, deciding to embrace advocacy, the importance of cultural competency, and his belief that recovery is possible for all. Additional information: Video of Angelo's story SMART Recovery Espanol What does advocacy mean to LARA? 

Yamila Rollan Escalona is the founder of the nonprofit Yaya Por Vida, an organization that helps those struggling with substance use in southeast Florida. Yamila was motivated to start this effort after losing her sister Yaritza (Yaya) to addiction. Yaya was a very talented artist throughout her life and her love of the arts provided a natural path for Yamila to follow. Yaya Por Vida offers both healing through the arts and practical tools for harm reduction in a wide range of outreach initiatives and community collaborations. In this podcast Yamila talks about turning her rage against the senseless loss of life into a positive direction of hope, the joy that Yaya brought to others through her art, and why connecting with others is one of the most powerful forces to combat negative circumstances. Links: Harm Reduction 101 PSA video Art as Healing Harm Reduction Explainer Videos

Keegan Wicks brings both lived experience and professional expertise to his role as National Advocacy and Outreach Manager for Faces & Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) In his annual September visit to the podcast, Keegan talks about what is happening on a federal level in the area of recovery, opportunities to get invoved in the upcoming International Recovery Day, and why highlighting successful long-term recovery is important.   

Alex De Marco is no stranger to financial distress. Childhood experiences and ill-advised business ventures convinced him that financial education, as boring as that might sound, was a key component for a healthy relationship with money. Eventually he combined his computer software skills with a desire to help those who had run into difficulties with debt--including those caused by compulsive gambling. The result was the GamFin platform, a no-cost financial counseling service that focuses on solutions to problems caused by compulsive gambling. Alex is now eager to grow the platform and connect with more mental health providers in order to treat the individuals involved in a comprehensive way. In this podcast, Alex shares his vision of a recovery ecosystem where therapists and financial counselors work together to benefit both individuals and families, and how SMART Recovery fits right in.  Resources National Council on Problem Gambling Mayo Clinic Overview of Compulsive Gambling Gambling Addiction Books  

Maureen Greeley's journey to the head of the nationally recognized Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling (ECPG) included stops at the San Diego Zoo, a sanctuary for wolves, and communications work for the Washington State Lottery. This broad range of experience has informed her approach and deepened her ability to relate to a variety of individuals and communities.   In 2018, Greeley received the National Council on Problem Gambling's Lifetime Achievement Award for Advocacy for her dedication to improving the lives of individuals impacted by problem gambling and their families.  Under her leadership, in 2009 ECPG launched the annual Four Directions Conference that brings together representatives of Tribal Nations in the Pacific Northwest and many other communities each fall to focus on holistic health, wellness, and recovery support. In this podcast Maureen talks about her personal and professional journey, how problem gambling is growing, what building supportive communities can do to address all facets of recovery, and what participants can expect at this September's Four Directions Conference. 

Christopher Toomey is a SMART Facilitator in Gulfport Mississippi. After years spent in active addiction, he realized he needed to make changes. As a Navy Veteran, he decided to go to inpatient treatment at the VA, which is where he learned about some SMART tools. In this podcast Christopher talks about his journey to becoming a trained facilitator, the support he received from other participants, and the value he finds in SMART.

Jody Bechtold is the CEO of The Better Institute and an Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor.  She is co-author of the Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals, and she presents both nationally and internationally about education and treatment for problem gambling. In this podcast Jody points out that suicide and problem gambling are strongly linked, and with the rise in legalized sports betting the stakes have never been higher. Fortunately, more clinicians are focusing on helping those struggling with problem gambling, and there are practical tools that can help. 

David Nooks is a Peer Recovery Support Specialist at the Foundation for Recovery in Las Vegas. He is also a musician who believes in the healing power of rock & roll. After many years spent misusing substances and seeking escape David decided to embrace recovery. In this podcast David talks about his journey to recovery and how he became interested in helping others find their own pathway to a different kind of life. He tells the story of the founding of Recovery Band Camp and how it has grown and developed into a safe space that celebrates the joy of music and the power of mutual support.  

The term "wellness" is thrown around in the context of many different things, including in the world of recovey from substance and behavioral disorders.  It's meaning can be fuzzy and border on cliche. But when Randy Williams uses the word wellness he keeps it real.  Williams is Founder of Willmore Wellness, and his lived experience with addiction and belief in the interconnectedness between body, mind, and spirit combine to inform an approach to healthy living that takes the entire person into account. Together with his wife Wray, Randy offers strategies to obtain physical, social, and emotional health that includes living life to its fullest. In this podcast Randy talks about how SMART Recovery took his life to another level, his decision to pursue a degree in professional counseling, and how each of us needs to locate our own personal resilience and grit.    

DeeAnna Nichols is a Certified Peer Support Specialist at ChangePoint Behavioral Health in Lewiston Idaho. Her recovery journey changed significantly when she discovered SMART in 2015. After trying to attend a SMART meeting and finding no one there that day, DeeAnna decided to take the training to become a facilitator. In effect, she took charge of her own recovery by taking action and hasn't looked back since. DeeAnna now provides support and shares her lived experience with others seeking help. After a lifetime of challenging circumstances and trauma of all kinds, DeeAnna has embraced the fact that by changing her thinking, she can change her behavior. 

Michael Marcum is a licensed professional counselor at the VA, and a former Army sniper. By his own admission he changed "countries, continents, and careers" to try and escape the reality of his substance misuse which plagued him for decades. After multiple stints in rehab and other pathways to recovery, he found SMART and it transformed his life. In this podcast Michael shares his recovery journey and explains why the practical tools and future orientation of SMART finally allowed him to choose a different kind of life.

The Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA) is a statewide nonprofit agency that focuses on connection between people in recovery and the wider world. By sharing their lived experience, USARA staff educates, advocates, and inspires individuals and communities to live more hopeful lives.  In this podcast, USARA's Executive Director Mary Jo McMillen and Associate Director Evan Done talk about the agency's growth and development over time, their personal recovery journeys, and why Utah is a great place to recover.  

The Minnesota Recovery Options Act has recently been introduced as a means to require courts to provide a secular alternative for individuals ordered to participate in substance use treatment and as a way to provide information and resources to counselors about secular recovery. Alison Gill is Vice President, Legal and Policy, for American Atheists, one of the organizations involved in the effort to get the bill passed in Minnesota (disclosure: SMART Recovery is also part of the coalition supporting the bill). In this conversation, she talks about the issues involved in advocating for individuals who object to religious-themed recovery treatment, why alternatives are a good thing for society at large, and how this specific bill can act as a nationwide model. Link to Minnesota bill summary and text Related court case: American Atheists Wins in West Virginia Religious Coercion Lawsuit

Compassion fatigue is real. It refers to circumstances where caregivers, professional or volunteer, become mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted and start to wear down. It can produce a downward spiral and lead to individual caregivers leaving the work that still means so much to them.   Fortunately, there are organizations who are trying to help the helpers avoid burnout, and one of those is CAPSA. Headquartered in Ottowa, Ontario, they offer all kinds of training and consulting on health related topics, offering courses such as Compassionate Care: Staying Well While Helping Others. In this podcast we discuss compassion fatigue, substance use health, the danger of expectations, stigma, and more with Shawn Fisk, an educator and partnership lead with CAPSA. Shawn shares some of his personal story and belief in the possibilities of strong connections with others in mutually supportive relationships.  

Including lived experience in a recovery ecosystem often adds an effective dimension of support for those trying to make changes in their lives. The field of peer recovery coaching has been growing nationwide and many states now offer certification programs. In Utah, the Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA) employs a network of peer coaches that work closely with individuals who are seeking recovery. In this podcast, we are joined by two USARA peer coaches, Elizabeth Myers and Kelsey Pierce, who share their lived experience and love of helping others with us. Special note: SMART looks forward to meeting USARA representatives in April when we hold our 30th anniversary conference in Salt Lake City. More information can be found HERE.

Billy Hoffman works with compulsive gamblers as a certfied counselor. His lived experience and clinical skills combine to provide hope for those who have reached a critical point in their negative spiral of financial and emotional consequences. In this podcast Billy points out that despite compulsive gambling being recognized as problem for decades, there is still a relative lack of resources for those who are trying to get help. The recent meteroric rise in legal sports betting has only compounded the issues involved. Here are links to potential resources: APA article on inclusion of problem gambling in DSM-III  Dr. Valerie Lorenz's book Compulsive Gambling Arnie Wexler's book All Bets Are Off University of Maryland resources for problem gambling International Problem Gambling Center

SMART Recovery is based on cognitive tools rooted in addressing how we think and react to life circumstances. For therapist Bruce Burleson, combining the cognitive aspects of behavior management with staying present in the moment is a recipe for successful treatment of addictions and compulsive behaviors. He calls his approach Mindfulness-Based Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, and he authored a workbook all about it.  Burleson has worked in a variety of mental health and recovery settings in the course of his more than 25 years in the field. In this podcast he explains how he helps clients address their issues and chart their own path to recovery.

Jan Folk was a high powered businesswoman for years, battling sexism in the male-dominated insurance industry. At the same time she was struggling with alcohol-use disorder and kept ending up in crisis.   After a couple of attempts to stop drinking she finally realized that the only way she was going to change her behavior was if she looked deep inside and made the decision for herself. That is when she learned about SMART and has embraced recovery.  Jan decided to share her story by writing a memoir, Hell in High Heels: How I Conquered My Demons, about her life as a business owner, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She chronicles her childhood and rise to prominence, love of dogs, and shares a story about how one might possibly lose a private plane.     

Keith Johnston is the Founder and Executive Director of Running2bwell, a nonprofit organization that helps those struggling with mental health and/or addiction issues become more physically and socially active. He decided to start the effort after a friend lost his son to heroin addiction and he wanted to try and contribute something positive to society. Keith turned to exercise, since it had always been helpful when he was attempting to manage his own meantal health and addictions, and now facilitates walking/running groups and SMART meetings. In this podcast, he talks about research that links exercise to greater mental clarity and many other benefits. He also shares his belief that not only do we all have issues of some kind, we all have a responsibility to contribute what we can to make the world a better place.

Jonathan Hunt-Glassman struggled with drinking too much for years, and tried many ways of changing his relationship to alcohol. But it wasn't until a doctor suggested he try medication that things got better. Based on his experience, he decided to start a company, Oar Health, which offers a way for individuals to investigate whether medication might be useful in their own recovery.  In this podcast, Jonathan is joined by Oar Health's Chief Clinical Advisor Dr. Josh Lee, an addiction medicine specialist, researcher, and Professor of Population Health and Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.   

Courtney Anderson insists on having plenty of fun in life. After she quit drinking, she wasn't quite sure what that really meant or how to make it happen. Now 11 years later, Courtney not only continues to have fun in life, she coaches others about how to make the most of their new sober lives. Courtney's website, https://www.courtneyrecovered.com/, includes links to all kinds of resources. In this podcast, Courtney shares how she ended her "toxic relationship with alcohol" and the key role her rescue cat played. She also talks about her new book and the great satisfaction she gets from hosting her own podcast, Sober Vibes.  

September is National Recovery Month and we welcome Keegan Wicks to the podcast. Keegan is the National Advocacy and Outreach Manager for Faces & Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington D.C.  Keegan has worked in the recovery field for 10 years as an advocate and counselor, and has been in long-term recovery since 2009. He works with policy makers and legislators at both state and federal levels and speaks regularly on recovery topics before a variety of organizations. In this podcast Keegan shares some of his personal story of recovery and what keeps him motivated to work in the field. He also introduces FAVOR's new partner organization, International Recovery Day, and shares the exciting global fireworks planned for September 30th. 

Besides being SRUSA's Executive Director, Pete Rubinas is a SMART Family & Friends meeting facilitator. He says he reaps many benefits by joining with others to share experiences and work on developing positive responses to challenging circumstances.  SMART Family and Friends meetings are available both in-person and online, and provide participants with the tools they need to effectively support their loved one, without supporting the addictive behavior.  In this podcast Pete talks about the healing that takes place in meetings and the practice of self-compassion, pointing to the work of Dr. Kristin Neff as a great resource. For more information about SMART Family & Friends, visit here  

Dr. Steven Proctor is the founder and principal consultant of PRO Health Group and a Senior Program Director for Thriving Mind South Florida. He is also a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has studied and written about Contingency Management programs, most notably in his Annals of Medicine article, Rewarding recovery: the time is now for contingency management for opioid use disorder. Contingency Management, simply put, is rewarding people, often with money, for achieving their recovery goals. While much research indicates that well-structured and adequately funded Contingency Management programs are successful, barriers persist to widespread adoption. These barriers include outdated attitudes, along with ethical and economic concerns. In this podcast, Dr. Proctor illuminates the issues surrounding Contingency Management and advocates for increased utilization of this important treatment strategy.    

Tammah Watts is a licensed therapist, certified outdoor guide, and SMART Recovery facilitator in San Diego. Her active lifestyle came to a screeching halt after an unexpected health condition left her homebound. Discouraged and in despair, one day she was surprised by a moving encounter with a small bird. Now she's written a wonderful book that shares lessons from the new direction her life took as a result of embracing the world of birdwatching.   Tammah's book is titled, "Keep Looking Up, Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching." In this podcast she describes how paying attention to life in the skies can keep us firmly grounded in a positive life here on earth.  For more information about Tammah and her new book, visit HERE  

Dr. Alison Beck is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Clinical Psychologist based in the School of Psychology, University of Wollongong in Australia. Her recent work includes research on the effects of online SMART Recovery meetings during the pandemic in Australia. It turns out that many individuals got great benefits from participating, and the Australian government's financial support made a difference.  In this podcast Alison talks about her love of research and belief that by finding things out, we can make things better.   

Carolyn Straub moderates a thriving online community for those interested in SMART on the social media platform Reddit. She enjoys helping others engage around how much SMART's tools and resources help those seeking recovery from addiction. In this podcast, Carolyn also shares her personal journey of recovery, which she wrote about in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry in the essay Mind On Fire.     

The Greater Cleveland Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI GC) has spent years providing education and advocacy on behalf of individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. Increasingly, substance use disorders co-occur in many persons, making treatment more complex. In this podcast NAMI GC Executive Director Katie Jenkins and Hispanic Outreach and Education Coordinator Monica Olivera discuss their work to bring mental health issues to parity with other kinds of physical illnesses in terms of acceptance and treatment. 

Killian Noe and Dr. Ruby Takushi co-founded the first Recovery Cafe in Seattle in 2004, envisioning a healing space for people who have experienced trauma like homelessness, substance use disorder, addiction and other mental health challenges. Today there are more than 60 cafes that work together as part of the Recovery Cafe Network across the U.S. and Canada. In this podcast Killian and Ruby describe the early days of their movement and how cafes have  grown into places of authentic connection and transformed lives.  

Michael Werner is a chemist by background and a philosopher by disposition. He was also the President of the American Humanist Association at the time they were looking for a secular recovery alternative to highlight, and that was how he eventually learned about and fell in love with SMART. Michael has facilitated thousands of SMART meetings and believes at least one thing with all his heart: everyone can recover. He is the author of the recently published Quit Your Addiction Now, a book filled with practical tools for combating addictions of all kinds. In this podcast Micheal talks about how changing our thinking can change our lives, how motivation is the key to long-term recovery, and why being bold and direct is the best way for him to facilitate meetings.   

Dave Howard is a SMART Facilitator in Poway California. He spent years going to 12-Step recovery meetings before finding SMART. Now he is convinced that what SMART offers can help anyone seeking recovery no matter what perspective they bring to the table. In this podcast Dave talks about his almost 20 years of drug and alcohol misuse, reaching a crisis point in recovery, deciding to become a certified addiction counselor, and why he thinks SMART's practical tools are magic.

Nonie Sims has facilitated SMART meetings for 14 years in Tucson Arizona. Nonie knew that SMART Recovery was the right fit for her in the first 10 minutes of her first meeting. Now she spends her time making sure others get a chance to see if it's the right recovery pathway for them too. 

Jay Phillips is the Executive Director and Board President of Seed Sower, Inc., a provider of housing and other support services for women recovering from substance use disorders in West Virginia. In this podcast Jay talks about his awakening to the great need for recovery services, the decision to leave a comfortable job and commit to a new path in life, the concept of recovery ecosystems, and the daily inspiration he gets from witnessing change in action.   

Newly minted SMART Recovery facilitator Tracy Gryp and her mentor Rick Kuplinski share their personal SMART journey and how they created better lives for themselves through the program. In the spirit of paying it forward, they now work together to bring the best support group meetings possible to their meeting participants.  

Mary Beth O'Connor went from running from the law as a methamphetamine abuser to handing down the law as a judge. Now twenty nine years in recovery, Mary Beth chronicles her incredible story in her new memoir,  From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction.   In this episode, Mary Beth talks about her perspective on multiple pathways to recovery, her work for LifeRing Secular Recovery and She Recovers Foundation, why she claims "Junkie" as part of her identity, and the ultimate beauty of serving those in recovery.  

As SMART's Director of Meetings and Volunteers, Melina Gilbert often gets to experience a volunteer meeting facilitator's passion for what they do, and that makes her feel very fortunate. To keep that energy moving, Melina and her team are currently working hard on helping facilitators grow their skills by making the Facilitator Mentoring Program bigger and better. In this podcast, Melina talks about the purpose, benefits, and future of the Facilitator Mentoring Program, including how meeting specific challenges can increase a facilitator's comfort and confidence. 

The question of an individual's ability to control a substance or behavioral addiction has been long-debated. More than 20 years ago Dr. Jeffrey Schaler made his stance clear in his book Addiction is a Choice. Dr. Schaler remains steadfast in his conclusion that addiction is a behavior and behaviors are choices. The existential therapist and former professor at both American and Johns Hopkins Universities continues writing, speaking and advocating against the medicalization of addiction today, and makes his points with characteristic passion in this podcast.   Historical debate from the archives of Psychiatric Times:  Addiction is a Choice Addiction is a Disease        

Gee Matamoros' journey to recovery included some very dark passages. Now he travels a brighter road, and insists on enjoying life as much as possible. Fortunately for us, one of the things he enjoys most is spreading the word about SMART.     In this podcast, Gee talks about: How his substance misuse and poor choices landed him in a psychiatric ward Why his life was everything to the extreme Walking the tight rope of his identity and doing what he was told Using substances to cover and sooth impactful moments in his life Always running from his authentic self because it wasn’t acceptable Finding SMART in rehab, where he could explore other pathways to aid in his recovery Sleeping like a baby because of the changes he’s made in life How the COVID pandemic helped launch and grow the online Spanish meetings What he’s doing now to advocate for SMART and the Latinx community Recovery being a community effort - there is support everywhere

Dr. Stanton Peele is a lawyer, professor, psychologist, psychotherapist, and author. Of all of these titles, he’s probably best known as an advocate and pioneer in the addiction and treatment world. His new memoir, A Scientific Life on the Edge: My Lonely Quest to Change How We See Addiction, is his 16th book that tackles addiction issues.     In this podcast, Stanton talks about: The reaction from when his first book, Love and Addiction, was published advocating a new way to conceptualize addiction The possibility that Tom Brady is addicted to football and what it’s costing him How people can flounder against society’s feedback Addiction not being limited to substances The basis of Life Process Program How SMART correlates to his thoughts on addiction The steps cities and states are taking to implement harm reduction Not being a joiner guy, but the self-efficacy guy The motivation to write his memoir The need to make significant headway in the addiction world

Johnny Allison’s substance use started as a way to cope with the trauma of war and chaos of military life. His recovery started as a way to become the soldier and person he knew he was and could be. Today, he is a Veteran, SMART Facilitator, and the Lead of the SMART UK Veterans Program. In this podcast, Johnny talks about: What motivated him to join the British Army The ties between his boxing career and serving in the military Why his substance use started and not understanding what was happening How the COVID isolation affected his mental health and well being How he was becoming a shadow of himself His drive and commitment to finally getting help Finding SMART and how it helped him manage his thoughts, feelings, and behaviors Why he wanted to become a facilitator Creating the 1st Annual International Veterans and First Responders Webinar The best things about attending a Veterans meeting

Years ago, Brett Macdonald and his friends had the time of their lives backpacking across Australia. After many conversations, they realized that heavy alcohol use had become a staple in their lives. This led them to creating a “sober competition” to see who could abstain from drinking the longest. From this, a global fundraising and awareness initiative was born. Brett is now the Managing Director of EzyRaise, a global fundraising platform, whose campaigns include Dry July Australia, Take on Addiction, and the latest, Sober October USA. In this podcast, Brett talks about: The history of Sober October campaigns in other countries How SMART Recovery became the partner and beneficiary for the US campaign Why and how to get involved with Sober October The benefits of abstaining from alcohol Coming to your own conclusions about alcohol Useful features for participants, including an alcohol calculator and calendar There is still time to join Sober October and support those in recovery

Katie Lain is the co-founder of Thrive Alcohol Recovery, an organization that uses the Sinclair Method to help treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). Katie struggled a decade trying to get her drinking under control, but no programs or treatments worked. In searching the internet for answers, she found a TedX featuring Claudia Christian, How I Overcame Alcoholism, and thought what she was saying was too good to be true. Developed by Dr. David Sinclair, the Sinclair Method works by taking naltrexone, an FDA approved medication, 1-2 hours before drinking, to block the pleasure receptors in your brain. With long-term, consistent use, it is medically proven effective at changing a person’s relationship with alcohol. SMART Recovery is a great compliment to the Sinclair Method because it teaches people tools, like the Hierarchy of Values (HOV) and Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), to help them understand why they abused alcohol and how to now live life without it. Check out this great interview by Luke Frazier, for our show Insiders+ Access, made possible in part by the generous support of SMART Insiders+ participants.

September is National Recovery Month, but many advocates point out we can certainly recognize recovery year-round, including Keegan Wicks. He is the National Advocacy and Outreach Manager for Faces & Voices of Recovery. He works to ensure that the recovery spectrum of services is available and funded for anyone who needs them. In this podcast, Keegan talks about: Why it’s okay to say “Happy” Recovery Month How Recovery Month started and has changed throughout the years His personal journey with mental health and substance use disorders How his family network helped him navigate the often-complicated recovery system Why the systems and access to recovery should never be a result of good luck and privilege The inner voice that led him to get involved and affect change Being the voice at the table with lived experience in recovery Faces & Voices of Recovery’s focus and core messages of accessibility and inclusiveness Helping organizations be “recovery ready” How Congress is helping with prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts Why it’s an exciting time to highlight and show what recovery can look like How to get involved in Recovery Month initiatives, and why to stay involved

David Koss, JD, is a member of the SMART Recovery Board of Directors and the Director of Government Relations. In his role as director, David monitors what the federal government is doing in terms of addiction and recovery legislation, and advocates for SMART and people with substance use disorders. David works directly with members of Congress to pass legislation that helps those with substance use disorders receive the care and treatment they need and deserve. For example, the recently passed House Bill HR7666 focuses on mental health funding that directly affects individuals either seeking or already in recovery.   David’s time is also spent on facilitating SMART meetings and coordinating the East Coast Regional Conference. The conference will be held on Saturday, October 22nd in Laurel, Maryland. This year’s theme, Shifting Paradigms, New Opportunities, will focus on new kinds of intervention, treatment, and aftercare – meeting people where they are in their recovery. Because this is an election year, David urges people to vote and get as involved as possible. He believes it is important to support those in Congress who are fighting to end the addiction epidemic and save lives.  

SMART participant wellnessandhope( her screen name) says her “destruction of choice” started in her freshman year and continued throughout college. While her friends were graduating, she was in rehab. This was not how she thought her life was supposed to go. Eventually, though, it put her on a path to recovery and led to helping teens and young adults going through the same experiences. Today, wellnessandhope is a licensed mental health and addiction recovery counselor, working as a Project Coordinator at Youth Recovery CT and as a SMART Recovery Facilitator. In this podcast, Pam talks about: Continually abusing substances throughout college and going to rehab instead of graduation Learning to make her life less complicated by not using substances Finishing her education and focusing on helping teens and young adults Driving across the state to the only library that carried the book Rational Recovery How the recovery needs of young people are different than those of adults The rewards of watching young people connect with recovery Realization that recovery makes things less complicated The impacts of using social media Celebrating the many ways people succeed in recovery Having multiple SMART meetings available for teens, young adults, and family and friends at Youth Recovery CT

Mercy Bell’s relationship with alcohol started in college as a way to thwart the uneasiness she felt inside. It led her to a “recovery or else” situation. She used multiple paths and experiences along her journey to recovery. Today, Mercy is the co-owner of Sober Voices and Sourcing Voices, with Alyssa Hart. Their mission is “to amplify and celebrate all voices and all experiences on the journey of recovery and mental health”, especially college students, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC. In this podcast, Mercy talks about: Having a “high bottom” that most people couldn’t see and using many paths to recovery Serendipitously meeting Alyssa Hart who was creating an online sober event, FLOW Being a “buffet grazer” of recovery Being impressed with the technology and ecosystem Alyssa was using for a grassroots style recovery movement during the pandemic The inspiration to start Sober Voices for online recovery events and Sourcing Voices, the technology platform where recovery content lives Why having a diversity of voices and stories is key to having people relate and connect The mission of Sober Voices and why they chose to use the words Amplify and Celebrate Finding SMART while planning for FLOW 2021 The future goals for Sober Voices and Sourcing Voices