Drug Addiction Defined
Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiological disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm and craving. -American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
Giving hope to those dealing with Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders and their families.
Karen Wicker, Director of Drug Free Moore County and Reubin Burney, a counselor with Carolina Treatment Center of Pinehurst discuss the importance of celebrating recovery from mental illness and substance abuse disorders. They are joined by Dan & Jeff from AA to discuss the alcohol component of addiction & recovery.
With September being National Recovery Month, getting the word out on what is recovery, how to get help and celebrating those in long term recovery is vital to helping families live healthier lives. Mental Health and substance abuse disorders have long been silent diseases with families suffering alone. Mental illness often runs hand in hand with substance abuse, Patients all too often self-medicate because they do not know where to go or have inadequate support from family or community.
This is the 27th year of the annual National Recovery Month recognition. The hope is to encourage people to openly discuss mental and substance abuse disorders and the reality of recovery support options.
There is a feature documentary film about the more the 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs
called The Anonymous People. Deeply entrenched social stigma has kept recovery voices silent and faces hidden for decades. The moving story of The
Anonymous People is told through the faces and voices of citizens, leaders, volunteers, corporate executives, public figures, and celebrities who are
laying it all on the line to save the lives of others just like them.
Karen and Reubin also provided insight into addiction as a disease, whether it be alcohol abuse, prescription drugs or illicit drugs. Although people
may choose to experiment or even are prescribed certain types of drugs, there is a predisposition to becoming addicted. Most people who have mental
health or substance abuse disorders are labeled as weak or not willing to get help. Celebrating recovery month is one way of trying to debunk this
myth.
Reubin, a counselor with Carolina Treatment Center of Pinehurst, works with clients dealing with addiction on a daily basis. Counseling, referral to
other supportive agencies and commitment are all a part of a successful recovery.
Reubin is a proud native of North Carolina. He lived in the New York area for thirty eight years. Reubin became a substance abuse counselor in 1999
upon completing the required training at Molloy College (NY). He subsequently earned NY State certification in 2002. Reubin has been with CTC
of Pinehurst since returning to North Carolina in 2012. He states being a counselor at CTC is both challenging and rewarding.
Carolina Treatment Center is located at 20 Page Drive, Suite 7- 8, Pinehurst, NC. CTC of Pinehurst is a comprehensive treatment provider
utilizing Medicated-Assisted Treatment (in the formats of Methadone, Buprenorphine, Suboxone and Vivitrol) and intensive individual and group
counseling (behavioral therapies, etc.) to treat Substance Use Disorder specific to opioid dependence. The staff consists of clerical, clinical, and
medical personnel highly trained to promote abstinence and other positive treatment outcomes.
Karen Wicker has served on the Drug Free Moore County Board for over 12 years. She just recently came out of retirement to become the Director in
March of this year. Karen is an educator by trade providing parenting programs, family support programs and assisting at risk families for over 29
years through the NC Cooperative Extension Service, Moore County Center.
Drug Free Moore County is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase awareness, disseminate information and support to facilitate
prevention, intervention and treatment of substance abuse in Moore County. Local resources on prevention, treatment and recovery are available on line at Drug Free Moore County.org. The phone number is 947-1902 and email is drugfreemc@gmail.com. For the best source of information go to their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Drug-Free-Moore-County-150895174592/?fref=ts
