Julie's Road to Recovery, CARE Act, Recovery Support Funding, and MOAR

Action Alert: Educate your Legislators about Criminal Justice Reform today with just your address and a click!

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MOAR's mission is to organize recovering individuals, families, and friends into a collective voice to educate the public about the value of recovery from alcohol and other addictions

Save the Date! MOAR Boston Public Policy Forum March 12th 5:00 PM at Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. Click Here for Details or RSVP!

Julie's Road to Recovery

I am Julie Pike, a woman in long term recovery. For more than 24 years I have not found it necessary to pick up a drink or drug.

As a teenager I was in denial of my addictions. I believed that drinking, taking pills, and blacking out were perfectly fine and all was normal. Having little to no regard for anything or anyone, I would not listen to any suggestions about going to support groups. Then I believe those meetings were for people who couldn’t handle their life while partying.

To prove I could put down any drug – I just did it without help. However, I was clueless about how to make healthy decisions. I ended up in a very hurtful relationship with a man, who I thought I adored. My new addiction was now a toxic, co-dependent relationship. My relationship with him led to supporting him in a crime, and the result was a long time in prison.

During my prison time, I sought out spiritual direction and therapy. Both taught me how to soul search, build values, and make healthy choices. After prison, I sought help by way of a recovery home, therapy, 12-step meetings, ATR (Access To Recovery) and recovery coaching. All have helped me live a good life in the community. I know how to ask for help today, and I do ask for help. I am learning to give back, which is the best of all blessings.

Today I am further blessed to work with an amazing team at MOAR, giving back in the best positive way possible as a Recovery Coach!

Gov. Baker Introduces CARE Act to Combat Opioid Epidemic

"An Act Relative to Combating Addiction, Accessing Treatment, Reducing Prescriptions, and Enhancing Prevention"

In 2015, Governor Charlie Baker created The MA Opioid Addiction Working Group to address the ongoing addiction epidemic that killed over 2,000 MA residents last year. Based on The Working Group recommendations Gov. Baker recently introduced "An Act Relative to Combating Addiction, Accessing Treatment, Reducing Prescriptions, and Enhancing Prevention" or CARE Act. This legislative proposal would expand provisions of the 2015 opioid-focused legislation called the STEP Act. It includes tighter controls on prescription drugs, improved treatment access, enhanced recovery coach roles, increased access to life-saving Narcan, and more youth prevention programs.

MOAR Members voices count! Our job is to provide a way for the recovery community to learn what is happening and be part of the action. Your voice helps MOAR form an educated response to policy’s affecting the recovery community. We applaud Governor Baker for developing The CARE Act. Some provisions of the CARE Act may or may not be controversial including potential changes to the state's involuntary commitment laws, establishing best-practices for treatment providers, and setting up a committee to study licensing of recovery coaches. As people who live and work in the treatment and recovery communities, these provisions could have a direct effect on you and your organizations. MOAR has been conducting a policy survey on the provisions of the CARE Act and sharing your feedback with policymakers. Your voice matters MOAR!

The Survey is still open. Please click here to share your opinions!

Click for preliminary Survey Results or see the Fact Sheet!

MOAR and Partners Seek Funding for recovery centers, ATR/STR, and diversion programs.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Addiction Services (MCAS) is a group of advocacy organizations that have come together to speak with one voice to strengthen support for funding for addiction prevention, treatment and recovery support services and increased access to services for people with substance use disorders. For the fiscal year 2019 budget the top priority is funding for new Recovery Centers. MCAS will continue to seek expanded capcity needed to sustain the successful Access to Recovery/State Targeted Response program. Finally, MCAS is asking the state to support new diversion programs so that more people involved with the criminal justice system get a chance at treatment and recovery rather than jail.

MOAR will keep you updated as the season progresses including opportunities to educate your policymakers.

Click for Details of FY19 Budget Requests

Get involved in MOAR's Statewide Peer-To-Peer

Recovery Community

Come to a monthly MOAR Action for Recovery meeting like the upcoming MOAR Boston meeting at 6:30 PM on February 5th at Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. Join this group to discuss important policy issues and speak up for the Recovery Community! Check MOAR's Calendar here.

MOAR education! MOAR recently presented our DPH-BSAS funded Recovery Messaging Training to students from area Collegiate Recovery Community Organizations at Boston University. Young people learning to tell their Recovery Story and to be Visible, Vocal, and Valuable Voices for Recovery. Check your inbox for upcoming announcements about special MOAR trainings in your area.

In Brockton, MOAR members came out to learn how to facilitate our DPH-BSAS funded Addiction Recovery Education Access Service. AREAS is designed as a peer-facilitated 'how to cope' series to educate people persons in recovery to overcome challenges such as housing, employment, and coping with a criminal record. We are excited to announce new AREAS group meetings in Northampton and Brockton!

We had a Recovery Talk Show at our first annual statewide summit of Recovery Community Organization that are part of MOAR's SAMHSA-funded project called SOAR- Speaking Out for Addiction Recovery. We are please to have the opportunity to continue this project with renewed support for the next 3 years. SOAR works to foster a strong network of peer-led Recovery Community Organizations across Massachusetts. To get your RCO involved email Kirsten@moar-recovery.org

MGH Seeking Volunteers for Study on Long-term Recovery

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