‘The Write to Recover’ program supports women overcoming drug and alcohol substance use disorders

Photo courtesy of: RWRThis is a recovery stone that one of "The Write to Recovery" participants made

Athens-area residents are finding healing from drug and alcohol substance use disorders through, “The Write to Recover,” program, which is hosted by the Campus Involvement Center once a month.  

“The Write to Recover” brings women from the Rural Women’s Recovery (RWR) Program in Athens into a university setting. Many of the participants grew up experiencing generational poverty and generational addiction.

The program allows participants a safe space to express their emotions without judgment or fear of criticism. Journaling is one of the activities that the participants use to aid in their ongoing recovery.

Journaling provides self-awareness and helps the women identify triggers and resist urges, track challenges, setbacks and successes, prioritize responsibilities, set goals and recognize negative thoughts. Working together in a safe space to share, process and journal their experiences contributes to the healing process.

“We put people first and respect them, not identify them by their substance use disorder,” said Ann Addington, Ohio University’s assistant director of Health Promotion at the Campus Involvement Center. “First and paramount is getting them the help they need. The women are getting help through RWR and journaling helps them open up and accept they need help.”

Notebook binders given to the women are decorated and used to journal based on various prompts. Examples of journaling prompts include, “my childhood was…” or “the last time I cried was…” and helps women in the process of recovery.

“Most women have never been to a university before and they feel they don’t belong,” said Addington. “Bringing women to a college environment expands their vision for their futures to include the potential of a college education. Some of the women have attended college in the past, but dropped out due to a substance use disorder. The program introduces them to the opportunity that they can get an education.”

The name of the journaling project, “The Write to Recover,” was selected by the women at RWR because they felt anyone with a substance use disorder has a right to access recovery services.

“When the women from RWR visit, our students get to interact with the women in recovery who have lost the things they value most to active addiction,” said Addington. “Some women have lost children, relationships, trust and financial security. It’s often an eye-awakening experience for college students to realize what can happen if their substance use disorder goes untreated.”

RWR is nationally recognized for its gender-specific and evidence-based approach to addiction and mental health treatment. They create individualized treatment plans designed to specifically meet each woman’s needs and have been in Athens for 35 years.

“A lot of people with a substance use disorder don’t want to feel and that’s why they start using substances,” said Addington. “Journaling helps them realize and experience their feelings in the moment. Everything is written down so there is no judgment. What you write, you own.”

“It’s important for the women to see there is a safe place in the community for them,” said Catherine Chelak, RWR director. “Some women have never been out of their county. It’s nice to see the community help women who are addicted and help them find their voices.”

One RWR resident, Holly of Vinton County, said, “My kids and family wanted me to quit using drugs and live a normal life. I’m tired of living life that way. I love the ladies and staff support. It’s been very helpful for recovering. We work on ourselves. I love it.”

Holly attended Hocking College in 2004; however, she did not finish her degree. She plans to reapply at Hocking College once she leaves RWR, where she will finish her degree in human services and corrections.

“I like that you can write how you feel and are not judged,” said Holly. “It’s a soul-soothing, sober activity and you can have fun doing it.”

Participants can read entries they made in the past and are reminded of who they used to be and it gives them hope that they’re on the right track. The communication between the women gives them comfort that they are not alone, especially when they hear the same story from other women.

“I like knowing (the program) is there and other people are in the same situation,” said Cyrone, of Athens County and current resident at RWR. “It’s strengthened my mind, got me on the right path. I forgave myself and made amends with others. I definitely love myself again.”

Cyrone, who will leave RWR in the next month with a sponsor, has scheduled meetings to attend and prepared a phone list of supportive women to help her stay on track.

“A lot need help, it makes a big difference,” said Cyrone. “It’s easier to talk to those in the same boat, it’s comforting and less embarrassing.”

Women typically stay in the RWR program for 120 days and can come from any of Ohio’s 80 counties. Residents have the support of 24-hour nurses and staff. They attend daily therapy groups and have access to an exercise room. A few of the women’s activities include: God boxes; collages; poetry; yoga; affirmation dolls; kindness rocks and creating magnets with inspirational quotes to change their negative thoughts.

“The day stays the same and how much they miss their family stays the same, but how they feel about those things changes because they wrote through it and changed the way they think about it,” said Evelyn Nagy, RWR case manager.

Nagy teaches the women to crochet and knit, which aids the women’s memories and ability to recall. Some of the women have never been to a library and feel overwhelmed. RWR takes them to the Athens Library and teaches them what resources are available and where self-help books are located.

A significant amount of the women who are housed at RWR have overdosed or know someone who has overdosed or died. They arrive at the shelter in the process of major grieving.

“In addiction, your world gets really small, your whole world revolves around using,” said Chelak. “The last things to fall away is self-care, bathing and eating. It’s nice to see the community help women who are addicted and help them find their voices.”

“The Write to Recover” program aspires for project participants to experience self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, improved relationships and healing. Their goals include helping participants shift their mindset, how they think about themselves and how they envision their future.

“I am so happy to address addiction in the community, everyone has to work together,” said Addington. “It’s good for the women to know that the people at RWR care about you and the University also cares about you.”

“The Write to Recover” runs for eight weeks and meets once a month in OHIO’s Baker University Center 321. It is open to RWR Program graduates and University women who wish to attend.

For more information about RWR, call 740-593-4749.

Photo courtesy of: RWRA few of the journals that the women have done in "The Write to Recover" Program at OHIO