BTC’s 6th Anniversary – How Far Addiction Recovery Has Come

It’s been six years since I started BreakingTheCycles.com to help the families and friends of those whose loved ones misue alcohol or other drugs. Originally, it consisted of my blog, but has mushroomed and morphed over the years to include the various menu options now offered in the navigation bar above.

But I wanted to use today’s post to celebrate how far addiction recovery has come — not just for the persons with the disease but for the family members and friends, as well.

How Far We've Come in Addiction RecoveryWhen I started my research on all-things addiction in 2003, #1, there was very little in the way of explaing the facts of the brain disease of addiction, let alone the facts of what happens to family members and friends who cope with their loved one’s drinking or drugging behaviors (aka secondhand drinking | secondhand drugging).

But as importantly, #2, there was very little in the way of grassroots movements determined to put a face on addiction recovery; to step out into the spotlight and talk opening about the fact that more than 23 million Americas are living thriving lives, no longer dependent on drug or alcohol use – lives that mirror those of persons who do not have this disease.

And, as importantly, #3, there was nothing in the way of grassroots movements determined to help the families — the 100 million Americans affected by a loved one’s substance use disorder — help that is targeted to helping them find their own recovery and in that effort better help their loved ones find and succeed in theirs.

I am beyond thrilled to tell you, today, that it’s a whole new, exciting world in all three areas.

We Are All In This Addiction Recovery Movement Together and Taking it to The Mall in Washington, D.C., 10.4.15

146 million Americans are affected by the disease of addiction. They include:

Addiction is a Family Disease - Families UNITE to Face Addiction and Stand Up for Addiction Recovery 10.4.15

Addiction is a Family Disease – Families UNITE to Face Addiction and Stand Up for Addiction Recovery on The Mall in D.C. 10.4.15

And WE are joining forces through UNITE to Face Addiction for a massive rally on The Mall on 10.4.15.

For me, it’s been the new brain research that has me so psyched about joining forces with the tens of thousands of others who will gather to stand up for recovery; to end the silence that has kept the disease of addiction shrouded in secrecy and shame, taking millions of lives, shattering families and costing our country billions of dollars every year.

About This Science and 21st Century Research Findings Radicalizing How We Talk About and Stand UP for Recovery

Say it Loud, Say it Proud – I STAND for Addiction Recovery

Not everyone is ready to expose themselves as a person in recovery, and that is totally, 100% fine. It is an individual choice to be sure. But if you can, please spread the word. Addiction Recovery is Real. It Happens to Real People. It Happens All the Time and It Happens to Family Members and Friends, Too!

For an umbrella resource for the Addiction Recovery Movement, check out Faces & Voices of Recovery, founded in 2001.

For an inspirational film that pushed the movement front and center, check out ManyFaces1Voice & The Anonymous People Film trailer below.

 

For an umbrella resource targeting help for the families, check out Change Addiction Now – United We C.A.N. (they have several state chapters around the country, as well).

And please know, there are hundreds and hundreds of more agencies, grassroots movements, nonprofits, treatment providers, medical and mental health providers, public policy leaders and others too numerous to name that are equally committeed to the Addiction Recovery Movement.

It’s our time. So if you can, please join us in whatever capacity you can:

Attend the rally on 10.4.15

Become a Partner (no cost)

Host a House Party to watch a live stream of the actual event (send me an email, and I’ll let you know the details when they’re available, lisaf@BreakingTheCycles.com)

Spread the word…

Together WE CAN change the Face of Addiction and bring Addiction Recovery for those who struggle and the family members and friends who love them into the light – front and center – for all Americans to understand and support.

Lisa Frederiksen

Lisa Frederiksen

Author | Speaker | Consultant | Founder at BreakingTheCycles.com
Lisa Frederiksen is the author of hundreds of articles and 12 books, including her latest, "10th Anniversary Edition If You Loved Me, You'd Stop! What you really need to know when your loved one drinks too much,” and "Loved One In Treatment? Now What!” She is a national keynote speaker with over 30 years speaking experience, consultant and founder of BreakingTheCycles.com. Lisa has spent the last 19+ years studying and simplifying breakthrough research on the brain, substance use and other mental health disorders, secondhand drinking, toxic stress, trauma/ACEs and related topics.
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10 Comments

  1. Mick Hirst on August 7, 2015 at 12:00 am

    Happy Birthday BTC – Here’s to more years of wonderful sharing!

  2. Barbara Cofer Stoefen on August 7, 2015 at 9:45 am

    Congratulations Lisa, and thank you for all that you do! Breaking the Cycles is an incredible, trusted resource for all who want to better understand addiction.

    • Lisa Frederiksen on August 7, 2015 at 3:24 pm

      Why thank you so much, Barbara – I really appreciate this!!

  3. Nadine Herring on August 7, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    Very Happy Anniversary to you Lisa and thank you so much for all you’ve done in pioneering the advocacy of family members of those suffering from addiction. As a new advocate for families as well, I know first hand the suffering that comes with having a loved one that suffered from addiction (my brother died from alcoholism) and the joy of recovery (husband/sister both have 14/10 years of sobriety respectively).

    We have come such a very long way, but we still have a lot of work to do to continue to educate and break the stigma, and it is good to have people like you leading the way and serving as an inspiration for the rest of us!

    • Lisa Frederiksen on August 9, 2015 at 10:43 am

      Aw… Nadine – thank you so very much for this – I really appreciate you sharing. I’m terribly sorry to hear about your brother and can relate to your joy over your husband and sister’s recovery. It’s wonderful to have you now advocating for families. I will send you an email – if you’d like to write a guest post, I’d love to share it!

  4. Cathy Taughinbaugh on August 12, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    Happy anniversary to you, Lisa! You blog has been beacon of light for all of us looking for answers to second hand drinking and addiction in general. Thank you for all you do. The times, they are a changin’ and it is exciting to see what direction prevention and recovery will take to help the millions affected by addiction in the near future. Thank you for all that you do!

    • Lisa Frederiksen on August 13, 2015 at 8:08 pm

      This is lovely, Cathy – thank you!! It’s been great working with you over the years as we both do our part to help families and those with substance use disorders, and as you say, the times are a changin’!!

  5. Syed Ahmed on August 28, 2015 at 12:59 am

    Great Post, I love to read articles that are informative and actually have good content. Thank you for giving the advice on how to start up drug rehab program. Addicted to any form of drugs always find themselves in trouble in their professional as well as personal life. So, this post will helpful to those who are sick of their addiction. You for sharing your experiences and I look forward to reading more. There are many Good Rehab Center and rehabilitation program who help us to get away from bad addiction.

    • Lisa Frederiksen on August 28, 2015 at 2:18 pm

      Thanks for your input, Syed, and I’m glad you enjoyed the article!

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