​I am the son who died from an accidental overdose.
It breaks my heart, but I will say it.
I was an addict.
I was, and am, also a valuable human being.
Do not turn away from me.

I forgive myself for being honest, for trusting too much, for forgiving again and again, for being me in a false world where values are upside down, for defending others, for trying to find some kind of justice, for trying to protect to relatives who were lost a long time ago, for trying to find some kind of coherence in our lives, for trying to find the good in others, they no longer existed, for trying to help someone who did not even see what is wrong because was lost long time ago, to try to be a family member who cares when they never see me or love me as a family, to be blind all these years and never see that...

​Many people find success with traditional treatments for addiction, but the drawback of traditional methods of recovery is that they sometimes leave gaps in care. Using alternative treatments for recovery, like mindfulness, stress management, and exercise, can help fill those gaps. For some people, that means using these in place of more traditional treatments, while others find that they’re a great complement to what they’re already doing. 

Almost 28 million people around the world are battling a substance use disorder. It can affect anyone including a child, a parent, and even a spouse. Recognizing the signs of a drug or alcohol addiction can be vital to saving a loved one’s life. 

Animal-assisted therapy isn't designed to be a stand-alone therapy. When combined with other treatments for substance use disorders, the therapeutic approach can motivate patients to stay in treatment. Animals can also help therapists and clients resolve mental health problems in a way that isn't possible with other types of therapy alone. - Jaime Acevedo, Outreach Specialist

For more information on animal-assisted therapy, visit DrugRehab.com

Envisioning a healing and recovery community, Hope Connection aims to open a long-term housing facility that offers safe living arrangements for survivors of domestic violence and ongoing substance abuse recovery.  With property values skyrocketing, finding affordable housing in the Triangle area is more difficult than ever.  With abuse and addiction victims most vulnerable to homelessness, the Triangle area needs supportive, long-term housing more than ever!

In early 2016, Debra Barkett proceeded to launch a social enterprise that financially aids Hope Connection in the future.  Then, she stumbled across a commercial ​storage facility down the sidewalk from the Community Care Center at the South Hills Mall on Buck Jones Road.  ​In the beginning, we rented the space to store in-kind donations at the facility.