26 Oct October is National Substance Use Prevention Month
October is National Substance Use Prevention Month, and the unfortunate reality of today is most people know someone struggling with addiction. Whether it’s your friend, colleague, cousin, sibling, mother or child, many of us have been affected by substance abuse.
This year, the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy released a report stating that over 2,100 Kentuckians lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2022. Now more than ever, substance use prevention awareness is needed in our communities and Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) is committed to preventing further lives lost and addressing this crisis through our comprehensive recovery programs.
Overcoming substance use disorder is hard enough, and for mothers, it may seem like an impossible feat. Having to choose between leaving their child behind to create a healthy life or being consumed by addiction leaves many mothers feeling hopeless with nowhere to turn. But at VOA’s Freedom House, they’re not alone. For three decades, this nationally recognized program has removed barriers that prevent mothers from finding sobriety by allowing them to keep their children with them as they go through recovery treatment.
On October 19, VOA celebrated 30 years of Freedom House at our annual Power of 1 Breakfast. Nearly 1,000 of our friends and community partners gathered in one room at the Kentucky International Convention Center to hear about the life-changing work this program has accomplished throughout the Commonwealth. And they heard from one of our Freedom House graduates, Emilee Ward.
Emilee came to Freedom House in 2017, five days after giving birth to her son, Noah. He was born fully exposed to heroin and like many of our Freedom House mothers, Emilee felt ashamed and desperate for support. Our team went to work for Emilee, helped her overcome substance use disorder and learn how to be a caring mother to baby Noah. Six years later, Emilee has created a beautiful life for herself and her family. She’s now working for VOA’s Freedom House as our Peer Support Supervisor and is in school working on earning a social work degree. She has two more children, six-year-old Ezra and four-month-old Emersyn, and Noah is a healthy, happy seven-year-old enjoying First Grade.
Emilee’s story is just one of many who were able to create hopeful, successful lives in recovery because of the support they received from Freedom House. And Noah is one of 319 babies who have been born in this life-changing program. So, when you think about substance use prevention this month, think of mothers like Emilee and VOA’s Freedom House. Because Emilee took action and reached out for support, she is living a beautiful, successful life with three healthy children, a fiancé and is working to show other mothers like her that recovery is possible. For more information on Freedom House and VOA’s recovery programs, visit www.voamid.org/recovery.