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Strength to Succeed Helps Family in Recovery

Strength to Succeed Helps Family in Recovery

Granite Pathways’ Strength to Succeed (STS) program helps its participants catch up on utility bills. One of our Parent Partners recently shared how this program prevented a family we serve from losing their home this holiday season.

I just wanted to pass along a huge THANK YOU to the STS program on behalf of one of my parents for whom we were able to use flex funding to pay her electricity bill. Over $800 in back payments was owed and the household’s utilities were scheduled to be shut off on Christmas Eve. In this particular housing development, the family’s eviction would result.

My client cried tears of joy! She is so grateful to have a fresh start paying her bills and for averting homelessness.

I am so grateful to be a part of Granite Pathways and ecstatic to be a part of someone’s journey to success! Thank you all so much, on behalf of my client, and myself for being such a wonderful team and resource for our families in recovery! ❤ Hope this warms your heart as much as it did mine!

Without fearing loss of electricity and eviction, this parent can continue working on recovery in the safety and security of home. Thanks to all our team members and supporters who make this possible!

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Suicide Prevention Training Workshops

Question - Persuade - Refer: Suicide Prevention Training

The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. This training is for all adult members in your community, it will be both engaging and interactive. You will gain skills that enable you to support yourself and your neighbors, friends and families that surround you. You will learn about available resources and where to go for help. Register here for this free 90-minute session. Sessions are available on December 15 and 16.

For all questions or more information please contact:

Debbie Baird, dab@mih4u.org, or 603-717-5408.

Note: Some people who have experienced a recent loss of a close family member or friend, find attending a suicide prevention training to be difficult. Remember that your own self-care comes first.

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Is Addiction a Disease? Experts say YES.

Is Addiction a Disease? Experts Say YES.

The Addiction Policy Forum and the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation have launched a nationwide campaign entitled “Stop the Stigma: Tackling the Stigma of Addiction through Education.” Following is an excerpt of their recent article on addiction.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) frame substance use disorder as a medical condition.

Yet many continue to ask whether addiction is a disease, so we asked the country’s top expert on addiction, Dr. Nora Volkow, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“It’s actually been strange to me that people have a difficulty in understanding addiction as a disease, because a disease is basically described as damage to an organ or system that jeopardizes your wellbeing,” explains Dr. Volkow. “We now have clear cut evidence that certain circuits in the brain become dysfunctional when you are addicted to drugs.”

View a video on this topic, and more details here.

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Strategies for a Recovery-Friendly Workplace – Virtual Symposium

Strategies for a Recovery-Friendly Workplace - Virtual Symposium

Employers all across the country are contending with more and more employees who struggle with drug & alcohol issues while at work. During this virtual symposium you will learn strategies to reduce costs related to employee substance use and addiction, become more supportive of employees with these issues, and specific strategies to create a recovery-friendly culture to benefit both employees and your business. Statewide speakers will present on various topics of concern to all employers and how to successfully maintain a productive, safe worksite and retain talented, skilled workers. The symposium will be online on Wednesday, November 18, 9 am – 2 pm. Learn more and register on the Reality Check website.

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Justin Spencer and SMHC Hold Real Talk About Mental Health

Justin Spencer and Seacoast Mental Health Center Host Real Talk on Mental Health

Justin Spencer of Recycled Percussion and Chaos & Kindness is being honored by Seacoast Mental Health Center with its annual Erik Cogswell Memorial Award! Join them for his inspirational keynote talk! The audience will also have time to ask him questions!! The event will be appropriate and interesting for all ages.

Join us FREE online to meet & honor Justin for all his work to provide hope, education and support for those living with mental illness in New Hampshire – and nationwide.

Join us on November 5th at 5pm for real talk, get your questions answered and have some fun!

Register FREE here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3RwHXCzVQVeAWpXpdrzrHw

View the Event on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1086019248521266/ 

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Remembering Art Woodard

remembering Art Woodard


Art Woodward loved his work as a Master Trainer of recovery coaches for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). Through his immense wisdom, compassionate style and unlimited kindness, he inspired people to coach with genuine care just as he genuinely cared for others.
 

Art Woodard passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2020, just 70 years old, 18 weeks after undergoing heart transplant surgery. His original heart wore out and the new one… well, it couldn’t meet the demands of Art’s powerful soul.

View the complete obituary on the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery website.

Thank you Art for your dedication, compassion and influence on thousands of people. You’ll be missed. 

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September is National Recovery Month

September is National Recovery Month

Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this annual observance celebrates those in recovery, and aims to increase understanding of mental and substance use disorders, and educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives.

Across our footprint, a commitment to recovery and a belief in giving people second chances is at the core of what we do. Because we believe that work is a critical component of recovery, we work with individuals, communities, and government and private agencies across the globe to ensure that people in recovery have the opportunity to lead independent, productive lives and reach their own potential.

We are grateful for this opportunity to cast a spotlight on the hard work of recovery. It takes a community—including our skilled and dedicated staff who are working to change lives every day.

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Health Action Alert: Call the Governor to Support Tobacco 21

Action Alert: Help Prevent Young People from Using Tobacco

The State Senate and NH House of Representatives passed four bills that will make New Hampshire healthier — prescription drug price relief, telehealth expansion, Tobacco 21, and support for behavioral health services in schools. These bills are steps away from becoming law as they now head to the Governor’s desk.

Action Alert for Tobacco 21
Governor Sununu has not indicated whether he will sign sign HB 1245, which includes Tobacco 21, into law. Please contact Gov. Sununu’s office at 603-271-2121 or at governorsununu@nh.gov and urge him to sign this critical piece of legislation that will raise the tobacco sales age to 21.

New Futures,  a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates, educates and collaborates to improve the health and wellness of all New Hampshire residents, is asking those who call in to the Governor’s office to provide feedback on the call. Please consider responding to their survey here.

Why NH needs Tobacco 21
Increasing the tobacco sales age from 19 to 21 will go far to boost substance misuse prevention and support the long-term health and safety of youth of Granite State youth. This bill will not only keep NH kids safe and healthy but will also clear up confusion and help ensure stores are complying with the federal Tobacco 21 law, which is required for NH to receive critical federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant funding.

New Hampshire’s rate of tobacco use among youth remains one of the country’s highest and is continuing to rise. According to the 2019 New Hampshire Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 50% of Granite State youth have tried e-cigarettes and nearly 34% report current use.

We must speak up now and urge Governor Sununu to sign this bill for the health of our youth!