At Allies, We Believe…
This post originally appeared on our Member Site blog, where experts respond to members’ questions and concerns. To sign up for our special offer and benefit from the Allies in Recovery eLearning program, click here.
Where we stand on MAT
One goal can be to help the loved one into a treatment program, one which might include medication. We want to make clear that while at Allies in Recovery we do not see medication as our only goal, we have no wish to stigmatize a treatment plan that includes medication (MAT). We are here with a strong, evidence-based training program designed to help family members and others in the community of the loved one gain the skills they will need.
These essential skills include:
- knowing how and when to talk with the loved one,
- knowing how to spot key signs of use,
- knowing how to understand stages of addiction and recovery, and
- being knowledgeable about, and ready with, a treatment program to suggest to the loved one at the right moment.
We believe you CAN succeed with Allies in Recovery
Numerous federally-funded scientific studies, as well as our extensive experience working with families, has shown that our approach WORKS. For some addicted individuals, medication can be an important complementary aid in recovery. Allies is not an actual provider of treatment programs or of medication; we are here to provide training and guidance to the family and community. We’d just like to make our position clear, since in recent weeks there has been an engaging debate on our blog on the subject of medication.
Yes, the family DOES have a role to play. Your stance, behavior, and choices DO make a difference. “Tough love” is not a successful technique. Our learning platform is set up to help family members learn the techniques that will reduce conflict, build that bridge of communication, and effectively guide your loved one into treatment. Together we will move your loved one towards recovery. Learn more here.
Illustration © Eleanor Davis