Common Recovery Questions

An opioid is a substance, like heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, Percocet, Darvocet, hydrocodone, codeine, or morphine. Words like addiction, drug abuse, and overdose are all used to describe the clinical condition called substance use disorder. When opioids are involved, the medical condition is called opioid use disorder.

Recovery may include therapy, group work, medication management, 12-step programs like AA or NA, or getting help with housing, work, and family life. The recovery process can also include handling health needs, exercise, nutrition, finding ways to relax and have fun, and developing skills.

Our project helps women and families on their recovery journey by promoting peer and family support. We also offer life skills development, sober social activities, and training and education.

You define recovery your own way. Whatever path you choose, recovery is beautiful.

You can call to get information about services at any time with no commitment. However, to give you the best referral information, it is most helpful to know about your situation.

Sometimes people think substance use disorder treatment doesn’t work because it’s possible for people to be in treatment and still have a hard time with their substance use. Substance use disorder is a medical condition and the recovery process can have ups and downs, just like someone might have during treatment for diabetes, asthma, or depression. In fact, the “relapse” rate for substance use disorder is similar to that of other chronic medical conditions. Learn more >

There is a lot of evidence that treatment for substance use disorder is effective. Unfortunately, stigma, which is often the shame we feel about drug and alcohol problems, can get in the way. This makes it harder to see the possibilities because we don’t talk about substance use or its care. There are some great resources out there about the evidence supporting substance abuse treatment and what we know is most helpful: Principles of Effective Treatment | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

One way we can all reduce stigma is to avoid talking about people with words like “addict” or “junkie” and to learn the facts about things like medications for opioid use disorder that are evidence-based and saving lives every day! Learn more about stigma.

Information about substance use is protected by federal and state privacy rules. At the start of any service these rules will be shared with you.