What If My Child Isn’t Motivated to Get Treatment for Addiction?
Suggesting Treatment to a Loved One
Intervention – a Starting Point
Drug Use, Stigma, and the Proactive Contagions to Reduce Both
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The journey to recovery from substance use is deeply personal, yet research consistently shows that women face distinct challenges that require tailored approaches to treatment and support. Understanding these differences is crucial for developing effective services that truly meet women’s needs.
Why Women Need Different Support
Women’s relationship with substances often differs significantly from men’s experiences. Research indicates that women’s substance use is more commonly linked to trauma and abuse, focuses on different substances, and is complicated by biological differences and caring responsibilities.
Key differences include:
- Higher rates of prescription drug and alcohol use compared to illegal substances
- Greater likelihood of experiencing domestic or sexual abuse
- More complex trauma histories that influence substance use
- Increased caring responsibilities for children and family members
- Different biological responses to substances
Barriers Women Face in Accessing Treatment
Despite making up a significant portion of those affected by substance use, women remain underrepresented in treatment services. Several factors contribute to this disparity:
Stigma and Judgement
Society often judges women more harshly for substance use, particularly mothers. This stigma can prevent women from seeking help when they need it most.
Safety Concerns
Many women feel unsafe in mixed-gender treatment environments, especially those who have experienced abuse or trauma. This can create a significant barrier to accessing support.
Caring Responsibilities
Fear of having children removed from their care can prevent mothers from disclosing substance use. Additionally, practical barriers like childcare arrangements can make regular attendance at treatment sessions difficult.
Cultural and Community Barriers
Women from certain ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ women, and those with disabilities may face additional barriers that require culturally sensitive approaches to support.
Five Key Principles for Better Women Recovery Support Services
1. Understanding Local Women’s Needs
Effective services must be built on a comprehensive understanding of local women’s experiences, including those not currently accessing support. This means engaging with community organisations and listening to women with lived experience.
2. Creating Safe, Gender-Responsive Environments
Whether services are mixed-gender or women-only, they must prioritise safety and offer gender-responsive elements such as:
- Choice of same-gender support workers
- Women-only group sessions and spaces
- Flexible delivery to accommodate caring responsibilities
- Safe physical environments with appropriate facilities
3. Building Trauma-Informed Workforces
All staff should receive accredited training in trauma-informed approaches, understanding that many women accessing services will have experienced significant trauma that may be driving their substance use.
4. Developing Integrated Partnership Working
Women often have multiple, interconnected needs. Services work best when they collaborate with domestic abuse services, mental health support, housing providers, and children’s services to provide holistic support.
5. Embedding Lived Experience Voices
Women with lived experience should be involved throughout service development, from understanding needs to evaluating performance. Their insights are invaluable for creating truly responsive services.
Innovative Approaches to Women’s Support
Co-location Models: Bringing substance support into spaces where women already feel comfortable—such as women’s centres, GP surgeries, or community venues—can significantly improve access and engagement.
Specialist Pathways: Some areas have developed specialist services for women with the most complex needs, often using holistic, trauma-informed approaches that address multiple issues simultaneously.
Family-Centred Approaches: Services that work with the whole family, supporting both the woman and her children, can be more effective than those that treat substance use in isolation.
Integrated Health Services: Working closely with women’s health services, including specialist support for pregnancy, menopause, and reproductive health, recognises the interconnected nature of women’s health and wellbeing.
The Importance of Early Intervention
Supporting women before their substance use escalates can prevent more serious problems developing. This includes:…
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Portsmouth, Ohio, once wore the grim label “Opioid Crisis Capital of America.” But in the heart of this struggling city, the Portsmouth Kettlebell Club offers more than fitness – it offers hope, purpose, and proof that community effort can fuel real recovery.
An Ohio Kettlebell Club Challenges the Cycle of Addiction: Just 100 miles east of Cincinnati, Portsmouth sits alongside the Ohio River. At the turn of the century, it suffered greatly from the opioid crisis. Local businesses shuttered, crime rates spiked, and despair took hold. Dale King, a native of Portsmouth, returned from active duty in Iraq only to find a scarred community. “No one is coming to save us,” King says. His solution? Teach strength. Both physical and mental.
Building Strength, One Rep at a Time: King discovered CrossFit in 2007, drawn by its ability to provide both psychological and physical gains. By 2010, he opened the Portsmouth Spartan Kettlebell Club in a downtown warehouse, offering $5 workouts. But the PSKC is far more than just another Ohio kettlebell club.
At PSKC, King’s team has created the “Portsmouth Method” – a blend of CrossFit, behavioural therapy, and nutritional guidance. “The most important part of recovery is effort, and we train that,” King explains.
Partner and team workouts are at the core of their approach, cultivating teamwork, accountability, and communication. These life skills, developed in the gym, help club members stay resilient in their personal battles.
Portsmouth Kettlebell Club at the Heart of Community Change: King’s club welcomes people from all backgrounds, including many rebuilding their lives. He’s hired former addicts as staff, and works with local counselling facilities and prisons to make exercise central to rehabilitation.
The ripple effect of the gym has been powerful, sparking new business in what was a deserted city centre. “To see the domino effect has been awesome. In a town devastated by weakness, we chose strength,” says King.
Today, Portsmouth Kettlebell Club has 120 devoted members. Many, like the group that calls itself the “Nasty Nooners,” turn up regardless of the weather or holiday. (for complete story WRD News)
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Battling opioid addiction has long been an uphill struggle, but a groundbreaking solution, the NET Device, might just turn the tide. Serving as a beacon of hope for those trapped in the relentless cycle of opioid dependence, this device offers a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical method to treat withdrawal symptoms.
How this Device Functions: The NET Device (Neuro Electric Therapy Device) is worn by inmates, similar to how one wears a hearing aid, (simulated image attached) and is kept on day and night except when showering. It works much like a TENS unit, delivering continuous, gentle electrical stimulation. Clinical evidence and user reports suggest the device can significantly reduce, or even eradicate, withdrawal symptoms and cravings within two to seven days. (complete story: WRD News)
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A Scottish Christian charity is making a significant impact in addiction recovery with its groundbreaking rock climbing recovery programme. East Ayrshire Churches Homelessness Action (EACHa), based in Kilmarnock, has partnered with Above Adventure to create the New Heights initiative. This addiction recovery climbing initiative combines outdoor activities with community support to help individuals build resilience and self-confidence.
Transforming Recovery Through Outdoor Adventures
Since its launch, New Heights has provided participants with free access to activities like rock climbing, abseiling, and paddleboarding. Each session helps those recovering from substance misuse overcome challenges, discover their potential, and develop vital life skills. The programme’s inclusive approach fosters teamwork and perseverance, key for personal transformation and reintegration into the community.
Rock Climbing Recovery Programme Brings Hope to Vulnerable Areas
According to EACHa’s development manager Kris Fearon, areas such as Shortlees and Onthank face significant deprivation, making this rock climbing recovery programme a lifeline for vulnerable individuals. “We’ve seen participants find empowerment, friendship, and the strength to move forward,” Fearon shared. Beyond recovery, the initiative also serves to reconnect people with their community, renewing a sense of purpose and belonging.
Recognition and Funding for Addiction Recovery Climbing Initiative
This year, the addiction recovery climbing initiative received praise from the Scottish Parliament, with cross-party support acknowledging its success. The programme’s continuation was ensured thanks to a National Lottery grant of £9,886, allowing New Heights to extend for another 12 months. EACHa expresses deep gratitude for the recognition and funding that make this transformation possible.
Comprehensive Support for Lasting Impact
New Heights is one of several interventions by EACHa aimed at addressing homelessness, addiction, and isolation. Programmes such as Friendly Fresh Start and EACH Recovery Matters complement New Heights’ work by offering essentials, counselling, and practical support. Together, these efforts are strengthening the fabric of East Ayrshire’s communities.
The 61 participants from 2024 reflected on the programme’s impact, stating, “New Heights showed me I’m capable of more than I thought and I’m climbing toward a better future.” With community backing, this initiative continues to inspire hope and change across Scotland.
Source: (WRD News)
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(The Role of Lived Experience & Earned Resilience)
Recent evidence emphasises the crucial role of lived experience in prevention.
An example again comes from the Well Communities' approach, which utilises Behavioural Health Companions and Recovery Coaches with personal addiction experience. This peer-based model shows remarkable outcomes, with 73% of retained participants engaging in active volunteering and 39% securing stable employment. These results prove particularly significant given their success with highly vulnerable populations, including individuals with histories of offending, substance misuse, social exclusion, and dual diagnosis. This peer-based model has proven especially effective because:
- Peers can engage vulnerable populations more effectively than traditional healthcare providers
- Lived experience creates authentic relationships that support long-term recovery
- Recovery coaches serve as visible proof that change is possible
- The human assets tasked in an evidence-based education pedagogy this ‘knowledge placeholder’ can be an incredibly effective prevention education investor
- Peer support reduces stigma and increases program engagement
The evidence suggests that prevention through peer support and community engagement isn't just more humane - it's more effective and cost-efficient than traditional treatment-focused approaches.
This model, adapted slightly, can be tasked in a prevention education arena enabling these recovery alumni to add their lived experience and earned resilience to an evidence-based demand reduction education program of resilience building. (excerpt page 9)