Substance abuse recovery isn’t the same for everyone
Valley nurse practitioner: Type of care depends on patient’s disorder, health, circumstances, stage of their journey
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Amanda Keenhold, DNP, PMHNP
Submitted photo/Denova Collaborative Health
Recovery may look different from one person to the next, but it is possible. The more visible we make the resources and people available to help, the easier it can become for someone to imagine what the next steps could look like for them.”
OPINION — Recovery on its own can mean a lot of things. Recovery after an injury. Recovery after a heartbreaking loss. Recovery after a bad flu. But this September, we’re acknowledging substance use recovery — a reality for millions of Americans and thousands of Arizonans.
In the U.S., nearly 3 in 4 adults who experienced a problem with drugs or alcohol considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered.
Understanding what recovery can look like
No two people will experience recovery the same way. The right approach may depend on the type of substance use disorder, a person’s health and circumstances and where they are in their journey.
For some, treatment may involve counseling or support from a community program. Others may benefit from medical care or medication-assisted treatment, which uses FDA-approved medications alongside behavioral health support to help manage symptoms like cravings and withdrawal.
I’ve seen services like MAT make an impact for patients, but the treatment path should always reflect the individual and their needs. What works may also change over time, which is why care should be flexible and tailored to the person rather than approached as a single path everyone is expected to follow.
Talking with a healthcare provider can help someone understand what option may be a good fit and what other forms of support are available. Having those choices available within a broader care setting can make it easier for someone to take the next step when they’re ready.
Increasing awareness around recovery
National Recovery Month gives us a chance to make conversations about recovery more familiar within our own communities. Learning about available resources, speaking about substance use with compassion and supporting someone who is considering care can all help make treatment feel less intimidating.
Recovery may look different from one person to the next, but it is possible. The more visible we make the resources and people available to help, the easier it can become for someone to imagine what the next steps could look like for them.
Amanda Keenhold, DNP, PMHNP-BC is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who has been practicing in Arizona since 2021. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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