Genesis Row project provides sober living for those in recovery

The Stable Recovery program provides housing and recovery support for people suffering from addiction, as well as job training to prepare participants to work in the equine industry. The program offers a sense of therapeutic community to those in recovery, as well as newly trained workers to address the labor shortage in the equine industry.

The Mental Health Rebuilding and Restoring Initiative helps those struggling with drug addiction by showing them documentaries of others who have also struggled with addiction and how they managed to overcome it. The documentaries have since helped 50 people to stop using drugs. The Initiative also follows up with, monitors and encourages participants throughout their recovery journey.

Women and mothers experiencing addiction often face obstacles when seeking help and care. Several groups like M.I.R.A.C.L.E Mamas and Women Strong Recovery and Wellness among many others, provide safe spaces for women and mothers to seek recovery care and empowerment while also forming a sense of community.

Café Gozhóó is a restaurant and vocational training program at the Rainbow Treatment Center, which is operated by the White Mountain Apache tribe. Café Gozhóó uses the kitchen to teach therapeutic skills – connecting with ancestral foods, stress management, and teamwork – to people recovering from substance abuse. Café Gozhóó is also filling a critical gap in access to care as many mainstream recovery programs are located far from Native American communities and often lack counselors trained in culturally competent care.

In Seattle, the over-policing of drug users has been extensive and frequently racially biased. Looking for a new solution, the LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) program, driven by a harm reduction philosophy, is connecting users with key social services rather than punishment.

Clean Slate Clinic is an in-home detox service that helps people receive a medicated detox plan including pharmaceuticals and vitamins, as well as daily telehealth sessions, rehabilitation support and check-ins. These detox services are currently undergoing a trial period that will tailor the program according to the unique needs of people in more rural and remote settings.

The Chesterfield program will be Virginia’s first recovery high school, open to any student recovering from a substance use disorder. There are currently at least 43 active recovery high schools in 21 states, with two more expected to open this year. The goals of the program are similar to those of existing schools and experts say the model increases the odds that teens will stay in recovery by making sure they’re surrounded by like-minded students in a supportive environment.

The Youth Awareness Foundation on Drug Abuse rehabilitates and reintegrates drug abusers back into society and works to sensitize youth to the dangers of drug abuse. YAFODA’s programming has been recreated in 14 other states and has since rehabilitated thousands of individuals.

Although COVID-19 has taken a toll on the healthcare industry, some providers and clinics have figured out a way to eliminate barriers during this time for those seeking treatment. According to the director of the Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview Medical Center in Washington, the healthcare industry has seen "at least five years worth of progress happen in four months" due to the implementation of telemedicine. While this isn't a longterm replacement for in-person visits, many doctors are reporting a rise in patient appointments via this system.

Some universities are helping students stay sober. Institutions like Rutgers, Texas Tech, and University of Michigan offer counseling, support groups, and even recovery houses. Research shows these programs are overwhelmingly successful. “They have low relapse rates, higher GPAs than average, and are more likely to stay in college and graduate. In fact, they reported up to 95 percent of participating students are able to sustain their sobriety while attending school.”