 Periodic Newsletter Volume 16 July 18, 2025  Hand-in-hand, we can work to remove stigma and provide needed support and guidance to our faith community members and their families who are suffering.Dear Savannah Faith Leaders and interested readers, You are receiving this e-newsletter because we have designed it for you. This is our sixteenth edition. We are the non-profit Interfaith Addiction & Recovery Coalition, based in Savannah and founded in January of 2019. We provide education and support for faith leaders and their laity on the subject of addiction and recovery. Our aim is to prepare you to offer the counsel that your faith community members need at this time when addiction in many forms has increased. If you are not a faith leader, you are probably in the recovery help professions and you have asked to be included in this mailing. Welcome!IN THIS ISSUE:* The STAT Box * Reports on funding grants applied for since January * How substance abuse affects a family: Two on-target articles * Book Review: Grace Revisited by Dr. Ben Gosden * What Sobriety is * Talkable Communities online: free online mental health training courses * Georgia Recovers CIC: online free seminars with excellent into * Caroline Beidler, author of recovery-relevant books, will be coming to Savannah in 2026 ! * Cartoon Content Editors: Carol Pine & Ardra Hartz Editor and Layout/Design: Ardra Hartz STAYING ABREAST OF CURRENT STATS REGARDING ADDICTION Chatham County is one of the top 5 counties in the state of Georgia for opioid use. (WTOC) Approximately 40% of children who are removed from their homes in Georgia are taken into care due to parental substance abuse. (Greenleaf Hospital) According to the National Association for Children of Addiction, one in every four children under the age of 18 is affected by addiction within the family.(1 out of every 4 children) IARC is actively seeking grant funds so that our goals can be approached and that individuals and congregation members or their families can be ministered to in regard to reducing the effects of subtance abuse. In January 2025, we learned that Gulfstream has reacted favorably to our application for funds to be used toward the Celebrating Families! project created by the NACoA. (National Association for Children Of Addiction) In June, we submitted a grant application to International Paper for additional program funding, and also in June, we submitted an application to the Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust, both for the Celebrating Families! program. Currently, an application is underway for the 2026 calendar year, for funds from Gulfstream for another public community-wide event featuring the highly regarded keynote speaker, recovery author Caroline Beidler. Small private donations have come in, but our major source of funds to accomplish our goals is corporate funding.  What is Celebrating Families! ? It is THE program, with a specific curriculum, designed by NACoA for the express purpose of assisting families, who have someone recovering from substance abuse, by teaching all family members communication skills, listening skills, observation skills, anger management skills, nutrition, goal setting and much more. It is hoped that with the assistance of the courts and the recovery community, twenty families can be recruited. They will gather at one of our faith community sites one evening a week to share a meal together and then to work on skill learning and practice. (Parents in one room and children, by ages, in other rooms) After 16 weekly sessions, NACoA states, these families will be stronger and have a much higher liklihood of moving into the future with low expectation of relapse and high expectation of strong functioning. HOW ADDICTION AFFECTS A WHOLE FAMILY:TWO ON-TARGET ARTICLES These are somewhat lengthy but provide solid data regarding the NEED for the Celebrating Families! program7 Effects of Drug Addiction On Family Members By staff members of Owl’s Nest www.owlsnestrecovery.com Drug addiction is something that affects not only the addicted individual but their family/friends as well. There are serious effects of drug addiction on family members. It is not easy seeing a loved one change for the worse and become someone they are not. Drug addiction affects several different aspects of a person’s life, one of which is ruined relationships with loved ones. A part of drug addiction treatment is repairing these relationships and building a stronger bond with loved ones. In order to achieve sobriety, it’s crucial to have the support of loved ones and friends along the way. Many people tend to focus on the physical effects of drug addiction and not the impact of substance abuse on families. At the end of the day, drug addiction can end up causing much more than physical damage to a person’s body. Coping with a loved one who is struggling with drug addiction is not only stressful but, it can also be emotionally painful. Intense emotions may run high which can end up causing conflict and struggle between the family and the person who’s addicted. In some cases, the family understands that the addict is not trying to hurt them intentionally but not always.This understanding may lead to a more empathetic and supportive approach. However, in some cases, there may be more toxic features such as manipulation and deceit between the addict and their family. This warped communitation is one of the many effects of drug addiction on family members and loved ones. Over time, this behavior can sever ties and create an impact on the family relationship. In turn, a person may continue using drugs because of this. 1. Trust Can be Lost Trust is one of the most important things in a relationship, especially between those closest to a person. Drug addiction can end up getting the best of someone which results in lying, making excuses, and failing to uphold promises. As time goes on, family members may end up losing trust in a person for failing to meet their obligations, which can cause distrust and frustration. Distrust can end up falling on children as well which can cause more adverse effects as time goes on. This loss of trust can create trust issues in a person as they continue to develop. Losing trust can also impact a person’s marriage and relationship with their children. 2. It Impacts the Addict’s Children Children whose parents suffer from addiction tend to be impacted greatly by their parent’s alcohol or drug abuse. The statistics paint a disheartening picture; nearly 1 in 5 children grow up with a father or mother who abused substances/alcohol. Chances are that if a parent is dealing with an addiction, the situation will cause an effect on the child’s development. In single-parent households, the situation is even worse because the child has no one to turn to. As with many other responsibilities, a person may completely ignore or avoid their child and their needs due to drug use. They may not feed the child or take them to school. This neglect creates a dysfunctional and negative household for a child. Not to mention the mental toll that a parent’s drug use can have on the child. Dysfunction and loss of trust may create trust issues in the child. This issue is one of the many effects of drug addiction on family members. This impact on a child’s development is extremely important and anything that disrupts that process can cause short-term and long-term problems. 3. Stress Can Increase Drug addiction is a stressful and sometimes painful situation for everyone involved. There are several different stresses that arise from a person’s addiction. It is heartbreaking to see a loved one go down a path of addiction and change for the worse. Not to mention the frequent tension and inability to stop using. It can become a dysfunctional and tiring environment to live in. What tends to happen in situations with families and drug addicts is enabling. Enabling occurs when a person allows a loved one to continue using drugs without consequences. While a loved one may have the best intentions, sometimes they may enable the addict without meaning to. This is done through picking up their responsibilities, making excuses for them, providing money, and other behaviors. This can end up causing an imbalance in a relationship and much stress along the way. 4. Physical and Emotional Abuse May Happen In some cases, the person who is abusing drugs may be in denial or act irrationally. Denial is one of the ways that drugs take over a person’s life and behavior. During this time, tension can be created between family members. Simple disagreements can end causing big fights with nothing being accomplished. This tension can cause a change in behavior for everyone involved, not just the person using drugs. Sometimes things may escalate to the point where physical abuse may begin. In some cases, the addict may be the abuser. In other instances, other family members may be abusive towards the person suffering from addiction. Children can also end up becoming abusers in some cases. Their parent’s drug addiction may cause them to act out or misbehave as a way to shift the blame. This negative behavior can end up leading to a downward spiral of acting out, which may involve drinking/using drugs themselves. The impact of substance abuse on families cannot be understated. Don’t hesitate to get help if a loved one is dealing with drug abuse. 5. Financial Problems Often Occur One of the often-overlooked effects of drug addiction on family members is the financial problems that may arise. Drug addiction is not cheap and requires a lot of money and time. Frequent drug abuse can end up causing someone to lose their job and responsibilities. Once someone is addicted, they may go to far lengths to get their drugs. If the person has a family, this financial burden will begin to affect them as well. They may begin to have trouble providing food, clothing, rent, and a roof over their family’s head. Drug use can also indirectly cause problems if the addict gets into legal problems like driving while intoxicated or using illegal drugs. This can create much financial stress on the entire family. Family members who enable a loved one’s addiction can also contribute to the family’s financial problems. This financial ‘help’ may create a dependency problem because they may rely on a loved one to care for their financial needs. 6. Confusion and Fear Can Develop Drug addiction and abuse can end up causing confusion and sometimes frightening changes in a loved one. They may become unpredictable and it may be unclear as to how they’ll react to certain situations. This fear and uncertainty can have family members confused and hesitant to help them or engage with them. Going back to the idea of emotional and physical abuse, this unpredictable behavior can lead to abuse. especially when children are in the picture. They may be more reserved and scared to interact with their own parents or siblings. This creates a tense and fearful environment for everyone involved. Fear is one of the effects of addiction on family members and shows the true impact substance can have on loved ones. 7. Withdrawal Symptoms and Behavior When someone is dependent on a drug, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance. These withdrawal symptoms can be scary to witness and can make a person act irrationally. Withdrawal symptoms differ depending on the drug that is being abused but they can include anywhere from nausea, to headaches, to strokes. It can be hard to cope with this withdrawal and usually means that a person will do anything to get drugs back in their system again. It can be a scary and concerning situation for family members and the addict. Excerpt from the National Institute of Health Website article entitled The Impact of Substance Use Disorders on Families and Children: From Theory to Practice Laura Lander, Janie Howsare, and Marilyn Byrne https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3725219/ Use of elipsis (…) indicates omission of technical or clinical sentences. The family remains the primary source of attachment, nurturing, and socialization for humans in our current society. Therefore, the impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on the family and individual family members merits attention. Each family and each family member is uniquely affected by the individual using substances including but not limited to having unmet developmental needs, impaired attachment, economic hardship, legal problems, emotional distress, and sometimes violence being perpetrated against him or her. For children, there is also an increased risk of developing an SUD themselves (Zimic & Jakic, 2012). Thus, treating only the individual with the active disease of addiction is limited in effectiveness. The social work profession more than any other health care profession has historically recognized the importance of assessing the individual in the context of his or her family environment. Social work education and training emphasizes the significant impact the environment has on the individual and vice versa. This topic was chosen to illustrate how involving the family in the treatment of an SUD in an individual is an effective way to help the family and the individual… Treating the individual without family involvement may limit the effectiveness of treatment for two main reasons: it ignores the devastating impact of SUDs on the family system leaving family members untreated, and it does not recognize the family as a potential system of support for change. Two theories important to understanding how and why SUDs impact the family are attachment theory and systems theory… It is estimated that more than eight million children younger than age 18 live with at least one adult who has an SUD. That is a rate of more than one in 10 children. The majority of these children are younger than age 5 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2010). The studies of families with SUDs reveal patterns that significantly influence child development and the likelihood that a child will struggle with emotional, behavioral, or substance use problems (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2003). The negative impacts of parental SUDs on the family include disruption of attachment, rituals, roles, routines, communication, social life, and finances. Families in which there is a parental SUD are characterized by an environment of secrecy, loss, conflict, violence or abuse, emotional chaos, role reversal, and fear… A parent with an SUD, who is mood altered, preoccupied with getting high or spending significant amounts of time recovering from the effects of substances, may miss the opportunities to foster healthy attachment. Consequently, the intricate attachment system that is built on hundreds of thousands of reciprocal and implicit interactions between infant and attachment figure will be affected. Eye contact, tone, volume and rhythm of voice, soothing touch, and the ability to read the needs of the infant are all intricate building blocks of attachment. Healthy attachment is a psychological immune system of sorts. Just as humans need a physiological immune system to fight off disease and illness, likewise, the relational attachment system provides protection against psychological problems and illness. Without a healthy attachment system, a child is much more vulnerable to stress and therefore more susceptible to having problems with trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental illness. Attachment theory posits that the quality of the parents’ attachment system that developed in infancy will affect their ability to form healthy attachments to their own children and with other adults… When one person in a family begins to change his or her behavior, the change will affect the entire family system. It is helpful to think of the family system as a mobile: when one part in a hanging mobile moves, this affects all parts of the mobile but in different ways, and each part adjusts to maintain a balance in the system. One consequence of this accommodation can be that various family members may inadvertently sabotage treatment with their own behaviors as they respond to the change in the individual using substances. For example, if an adult son tries to get sober and his retired father feels as if he has lost his “drinking buddy,” he might express to his son that he can have “just a couple beers at the game.” This will put pressure on the son to continue his use so as not to disappoint his father. These behaviors can be seen as an attempt to maintain the comfortable equilibrium of the system because as one person changes it upsets the equilibrium of the whole family system including extended family relationships. Family therapy can be a useful intervention; the therapist can assist and support the son in setting limits with the father saying he does not want to drink at all and suggesting alternative non-drinking-related activities. Individual therapy can be used with the son to affirm his decision to remain sober and reinforce the importance of his establishing his own identity as a non-drinking person…. A parent with an SUD is 3 times more likely to physically or sexually abuse their child. The sequalae of this is that these children are more than 50% more likely to be arrested as juveniles, and 40% more likely to commit a violent crime (USDHHS, 1996). Children who have experienced abuse are more likely to have the externalizing disorders such as anger, aggression, conduct, and behavioral problems whereas children who experience neglect are more likely to have internalizing disorders (depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, poor peer relations). Incest has a very high association with parental substance abuse as do all types of sexual abuse. About two thirds of incest perpetrators report using alcohol directly before the offending incident (USDHHS, 1996)… Many children living in a home where there is an addiction develop into “parentified children.” This anomaly occurs when the caretaker is unable to meet the developmental needs of the child, and the child begins to parent themselves and perhaps younger siblings earlier than developmentally appropriate. In a phenomenon called “reversal of dependence needs” the child actually begins to parent the parent…In reversal of dependence needs, the parent’s needs are placed before the child’s. This sets the child up for a potential lifetime of inability to set healthy boundaries in relationships and make the important triad connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It creates a lack of self-awareness and sometimes an over awareness of others’ needs. In the literature, one can find these difficulties well-documented under children of alcoholics and adult children of alcoholics research (Berkowitz & Perkins, 1988; Cork, 1969; Hecht, 1973; Morehouse & Richards, 1982; Stroufe, Egeland, Carlson, & Collins, 2005; Tarter, 2002; Zucker, Donovan, Masten, Mattson, & Moss, 2009)… Educational problems are also characteristic of some children affected by parental substance use. Problems with unexcused absences in childhood can turn into more serious truancy problems in adolescence and culminate in school dropout. In early childhood, parents read less and provide less learning-based stimulation to their infants and toddlers. In school-age years, parents are less available to provide assistance with homework, monitor school performance, and track assignments. These children may have difficulty with attention and concentration due to increased anxiety levels related to a chaotic home environment. Unstructured bedtimes and mealtimes as well as witnessing domestic violence and safety issues all contribute to an increase in learning problems and behavioral problems for these children at school. It is difficult for children to focus on higher order thinking and learning when basic survival needs are not met. Similar to the home environment, communication between substance abusing parents and teachers and the larger school system is poor. Many parents struggling with an SUD had difficulty with the school system in their own school-age years and avoid interacting with it (the school system) due to their own anxiety or shame… Communication is a significant social skill for interpersonal effectiveness. Parents with a SUD may have difficulty with assertiveness and direct communication. Many subjects are covertly “off-limits” to discuss. Children in these families also often witness the convergence of poor communication and affect dysregulation with their caregivers that frequently results in domestic violence. Although these difficulties may not be overtly diagnosable with a physical or psychological disorder, the patterns have significant developmental, social, and interpersonal consequences. Common emotions these children experience are anxiety, fear, depression guilt, shame, loneliness, confusion, and anger. They may believe that they caused their parent’s SUD, or perhaps they are expected to keep the drug use a secret from others in the family or in the community. Perhaps they recognize their parent is mood altered or in withdrawal but are told that, “Your dad is just sick; he needs his medicine.” A parent’s moodiness, forgetfulness, and preoccupation can create a chaotic and unstructured, unpredictable environment that leaves the child guessing and asking the questions, “What is going to happen next?” and “What is normal?”… Individuals with SUDs cannot be understood and treated effectively without considering the impact on the whole family. Addictions researchers have confirmed the reciprocal relationship between the disease of addiction and the environment. All persons influence their social environment and in turn are influenced by it. The family system must be factored into the understanding of the disease development and maintenance as well as be included in the efforts necessary for successful ongoing treatment. The earlier we can intervene in the progression of an SUD, the better the outcomes for all family members.  Grace Rediscovered Finding Hope & Healing Through Faith & Recovery Review of a new book by Ben Gosden, Senior Pastor, Trinity United Methodist Church Savannah, Georgia by Carol Pine Sitting in the pew of the church of my childhood decades ago, I never once heard our pastor talk about the disease that was killing my mother and my brother. This same disease would nearly kill me, too. In 1960s America, no one I knew asked for help because no one talked about alcoholism in polite company. The stigma of addiction was stifling then…and it still is. Today, however, more people understand that all forms of addiction are a disease, not a moral failing: Addicts can get well and stay well…and so can the people and families who love them. In fact, the tools that people who struggle with addiction learn to use and practice can have dramatic and positive benefits for anyone…so please read on. It is still the rare faith leader who will share his own personal crisis openly. Rev. Gosden, senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Savannah, Georgia, is one of those people who is helping to change minds about this disease of addiction because he reveals his own struggle with total honesty and an open heart. But this author’s message goes much further and rings true for most of us, whether we face addiction ourselves — or not. The fact is, we still face inevitable struggles as human beings: “Maybe you’ve heard of an existential crisis. It’s part of our human condition,” Rev. Gosden writes in Grace Rediscovered. “It’s that moment when you become keenly aware that the inner you and the outer you are not in alignment. Maybe you’re changing jobs, becoming an empty-nester, learning to be a parent, losing a loved one. There are three, shared feelings that abound — fatigue, confusion and angst. “Slowly, but surely, I came to realize enough was enough,” Rev. Gosden says, as he tells his own story of addiction: ”I was increasingly burned out in my job. I was losing patience with the people I loved most. And I was tired – I was so tired – of the routine and the work and the stuff that had brought me to this place of exhaustion. Something had to change.” Rev. Gosden found that change in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous and a 12-Step program of recovery whose principles are universal to a healthy mind, body and soul. At the heart of recovery from any crisis is acceptance and Rev. Gosden offers practical guidance on these topics that sum up the fundamental challenges of life as we live it: * Accepting our powerlessness, * Accepting our “Right Size” and God’s too, * Accepting Ourselves: Good, Bad and Otherwise, * Accepting and giving forgiveness, * Accepting our Families of origin, * Accepting our role as healthy parents, * Accepting our vocations without giving up our lives, * Accepting our ongoing Soul Work, * Accepting a life of service to God, Neighbor, and Self. There is much wisdom and practical guidance in this slim volume crafted by a man who is willing and able to be “an open book”. WIPF & Stock, an imprint of WIPF and STOCK Publishers www.lwipfandstock.com Carol Pine is a person in long-term recovery and co-founder of the Interfaith Addiction Recovery Coaltion, a Savannah, Georgia 501c3 non profit.SAMHSA is an acronym for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration It has a huge website offering information and /or webinars on multiple aspects of addiction / recovery. Begin HERE: https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/recovery/resourcesFREEDOM SONG On March 30th, 2025, congregation Mickve Israel, 20 East Gordon Street in Savannah, hosted a rare and compelling musical that has traveled the U.S., focused on the prevalence of addiction and the gift of recovery. The event was presented with no admission fee. Rabbi Robert Haas, in introducing the production, said, “Addiction unfortunately remains an issue within the bounds of every faith group, actually within every group of any kind. We must stop the cycle of pushing the discussion into the closet or sweeping it under the rug if we want to help individuals and families in every faith group and every group of any kind.” Freedom Song posed one stark question: “What are you a slave to?” The cast of Freedom Song was not a cast of actors; they were individuals in recovery from addiction themselves who have faced their use of drugs, alcohol, gambling, food and other destructive behaviors. The performance was designed to give cast members an opportunity to answer questions from the audience and share their own stories of recovery. If you missed the presentation of Freedom Song, you will want to research what city you would be able to see it in. It will be worth the trip, to be sure.  “ Georgia Recovers is a statewide initiative in Georgia focused on reducing the stigma on substance abuse disorder and promoting recovery. It utilizes a multi-media campaign featuring stories of Georgians in long-term recovery to inspire hope and connection, ultimately aiming to remove barriers to care.”From the Georgia Recovers Community Impact Committee Newsletter, here are three basic tips to help reconnect or to try out as you continue creating the best version of yourself. 1. Tapping Into the Power of Prayer and Meditation Getting into prayer, meditation, and some quiet time daily helps us stay centered and peaceful throughout the day. While prayer mostly focuses on the outer world, meditation often focuses on the inner world. When practiced together, they can be powerful additions to daily routines, adding a sense of calm and peace and increasing one’s connection to oneself and one’s beliefs. Many resources and apps can help you in your prayer and meditation practices. Some resources that you might find helpful are these: Insight Timer, Aura, Headspace, Abide, and Contemplative Outreach. 2. Stepping Up Your Physical Wellness Many people dread the word “exercise” and like to put it out of their minds. However, according to Dr. Thomas Feiden, walking is “the closest thing we have to a wonder drug “when it comes to health. Not only can walking help you control your weight, but studies show that it also helps reduce cravings, reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, ease joint pain, and boost immune function. Additionally, studies have shown that getting up and walking helps productivity at work. Start with small goals to increase your steps and slowly increase until you meet your walking goals. 3. Connecting with Others is Key Social connections provide encouragement, accountability, and a sense of belonging, all of which are crucial for maintaining recovery. Whether you’re just starting or are years into your recovery journey, prioritizing social wellness can make all the difference.Set aside time to connect with friends, family, or recovery peers. Whether it’s grabbing coffee with a trusted mentor or attending a support group meeting, scheduling time for social interaction helps strengthen bonds. Adding these connections to your calendar ensures you’re making them a priority, even when life feels overwhelming. Don’t forget to attend peer-led groups like AA, NA, or SMART Recovery to connect with others on a similar path. As the world changes and our lives get busier, we must make time to meditate, take a walk, and hang out with friends. As you set your intentions for 2025, prioritize your personal wellness and mental health and remind yourself that “you are worth it!” For more resources on mental health and wellness, you can visit this site or check out SAMHSA’s Wellness Toolkit here. If you find yourself in a mental health crisis and need immediate support, call 988 for help 24/7/365. Sources: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-surprising-benefits-of-walking https://hbr.org/2021/02/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-a-walk https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources/ https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma16-4958.pdf  The image above is the home page of TALKABLE COMMUNITIEShttps://www.talkablecommunities.orgTalkable Communities is a website that’s chock-full of real, professionally led training to help you help a friend or loved one during a mental health emergency. It is applicable mental health training for absolutely FREE: The image above is the home page of TALKABLE COMMUNITIESTalkable Communities is a collaboration of 5 non-profits that care about mental wellness.Check it out  Caroline Beidler, author of Downstairs Church, will be our keynote speaker at a 2026 inclusive community-wide event. “When living with unresolved trauma,” she says, “addiction, or mental health issues can feel like an endless cycle of pain and disconnection. It’s easy to feel trapped, believing that healing is out of reach. Yet, every day is an opportunity to break these chains and step into a brighter future.Her second book, You Are Not Your Trauma, focuses on that stigma-caused feeling of ‘otherness’ that people in recovery experience. Trauma is not what happens to you, but your responses to it. Caroline Beidler comes alongside as a trusted expert and gentle friend to show you how to make the changes you need to uproot those unhealthy responses and bring the light of hope to the future.”Circle of Chairs” is the name of Caroline’s Substack. Anyone can subscribe here: .https://www.circleofchairs.com/“Pull up a chair. Share your story of recovery,” the webpage invites. Caroline says, “We are all living, breathing, struggling, human beings that have stories to share with each other that will help to heal and transform the world.” Recovery is for everyone. “This is a weighty statement, and I do not say it lightly, she states.. This is how much I believe that you and I have much more in common than we do not. Will you join me in challenging ourselves to see the similarities and not the differences? What are some ways that we can break down barriers between each other? *We can understand the Impact of STIGMA *We can recognize how societal stigma around addiction and mental health can prevent individuals from seeking help. *We can explore and identify common misconceptions and stereotypes associated with these issues and challenge ourselves to approach everyone with an open mind. * We can explore Personal Narratives: * We can learn how personal stories and experiences can break down barriers and foster empathy. * We can reflect on a speaker’s journey and the lies they told themselves to avoid facing their struggles. Learn from that. * We can promote and celebrate recovery: * We can gain insights into the importance of recovery awareness and education. * We can understand the role of community and support systems in recovery and mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. * We can encourage open dialogue: * We can initiate conversations about addiction and mental health recovery in various settings including schools, places of employment, faith communities and yes, parking lots. * We can co-create safe and supportive environments for individuals to share their experiences and stories with each other. * We can foster Compassion and Empathy: * We can cultivate a compassionate mindset towards those struggling with addiction and mental health issues—or any other human issues. * We can understand the importance of empathy in supporting recovery.  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