Resources
Voices of Hope Community Meetings and Education Series
Voices of Hope holds periodic meetings with community members and partners to discuss outreach programs, ad campaigns, new research and expert insights, challenges, and community feedback on Voices of Hope activities and future needs.
Our Community Education Series is open to the public and anyone interested in learning more about addiction and other mental health topics should attend.
Visit the Upcoming Events and News sections of the website for Community Meetings and Education Series dates and times.
Naloxone Community Outreach Program (Overdose Prevention)
Voices of Hope has reached out to community groups and businesses on the erasure of stigma and importance of the science behind the use of naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.
Access to naloxone, was relatively limited until legislatures provided specific statutory protections for nonmedical professionals to possess and administer naloxone without a prescription. Medical professionals and other interested parties have welcomed these new laws as a way to reduce the toll of the opioid epidemic and alleviate concerns about criminal, civil and professional liability. Voices of Hope has provided substance abuse education and distribution of naloxone to local groups and businesses, with the hope that lives will be saved.
If you, your group or business is interested in obtaining naloxone, contact us for more information.
Outreach
to Our Younger Community Members
Rocks for Recovery
Voices of Hope partnered with the Wings Community Programs in their summer children’s program with our Rocks for Recovery program. The children painted rocks that say ‘Pick Me Up’ on one side and an inspirational saying or word on the other side, something as simple as ‘HOPE’. The rocks were randomly placed in downtown areas and rural places such as hiking trails and parks.
Puffin Book Project
Voices of Hope partners with local libraries on book projects. The first one was ‘Flight of the Puffin’ by Ann Braden. The book centers around four children who all feel a little bit alone, with very different circumstances. One of the characters decides to draw a picture on index cards and include a motivational comment that goes with the picture. She tries to put these in places where people will find them and hopefully brighten their day. Kits of colored pencils and index cards will be available at the libraries for the children to do the same.
Watch for these and other outreach programs under the Upcoming Events and New sections of the webpage.
National Recovery Month
National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.
Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, this observance reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.
There are millions of Americans whose lives have been transformed through recovery. Since these successes often go unnoticed by the broader population, Recovery Month provides a vehicle for everyone to celebrate these accomplishments. Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities around the country celebrate Recovery Month. They speak about strides made by those in recovery and share their success stories with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In doing so, everyone helps to increase awareness and foster a greater understanding about mental and substance use disorders.
Every year Voices of Hope will plan special projects and events for September Recovery Month. Visit the Upcoming Events and News sections of the webpage for more information.
Vermont Department of Health Services
Many different kinds of professionals provide treatment for substance use disorders. In most treatment programs, the main caregivers are specially trained individuals who are certified or licensed as substance use treatment counselors.
Most treatment programs in Vermont assign you to a treatment team of professionals. Depending on the type of treatment, teams can be made up of social workers, counselors, doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists or other professionals.
Visit the Vermont Department of Health Services web site for state run programs and information on substance abuse.
Identifying Addictive Behavior
For friends and family members, recognizing signs of addictive behavior is essential to helping someone. Recognizing patterns of addictive behavior is not always easy, and the signs of addictive behavior are not always obvious.
Since addiction often maintains itself through secrecy and dishonesty, people who face addiction may go to great lengths to conceal addictive behaviors. Friends and family should not blame themselves if they did not see such signs before addiction manifested in their loved one.
Close friends and family members may notice signs of active drug use, overdose or withdrawal in their loved one.
Physical signs of addiction include, but aren’t limited to:
- Eye changes (enlarged or small pupils, bloodshot eyes)
- Sleep changes
- Hygiene changes
- Skin changes (cold, dry, clammy, sweaty, goosebumps)
- Worsened physical coordination
- Unkempt appearance
- Mental status changes
- Restlessness
- Shakiness or tremors
Behavioral changes may also help a friend or family member identify a drug or alcohol addiction.
Some common behavioral signs of addiction may include:
- Secretive or isolative behavior
- Unexplained financial distress
- Erratic behavior
- Unexplained or atypical mood swings
- A decline in school or work performance
- Depressed mood
- Inability to enjoy usual activities
- Anxiety
Someone who struggles with substance abuse may display some of these physical and behavioral signs and not others, and not everyone will show these signs. If any sort of physical and behavioral changes occur in your loved one and you’re concerned that drug use is involved, speak with your friends or family members privately AND call Voices of Hope for help and direction.
