Our Mission To Disrupt The Narrative Of Addiction Treatment and Recovery
Our Mission
Recovery Organization Resources came to fruition after our organization’s leaders saw how difficult it is for people, especially members of diverse communities, to obtain access to the resources needed for successful recovery treatment. Better access to resources is important because research from the Recovery Research Institute found that, on average, it takes an individual 15 years in recovery to reach a similar quality of life as the general population. 15 years is too long for those in recovery to wait and only by having access to multiple resources that reach across different generations, cultures, and populations can we make that gap smaller.
Having access to traditional treatment options set recovery communities behind, can be punitive, or are rooted in approaches that do not take into account a person’s individual culture, identity, or other comorbidities they may struggle with.
For us, the issue is dire.
Every day thousands of Americans die. Yet, what we have come to expect of treatment and recovery has remained the same. While large pharmaceutical companies continue to make millions of dollars in profits each year, our communities continue to suffer from broken families, loss of loved ones, and more high-risk youth than we’ve ever seen before due to an addiction crisis that is only growing.
Our communities need disruption. Our communities need you.
This is why Recovery Organization Resources has set out to help organizations across the country better address today’s recovery needs. Together, we can be catalysts for change and slow the progression of death and heartbreak that plague our communities.
It’s what we stand for. And, we will continue on this path forward until our mission is complete.
Building Equity - One Recovery Organization At A Time
We can’t talk about equity in recovery treatment without first addressing the communities of color who are the most impacted by the lack of equitable access.
In the early 1980s through the 1990s, The United States faced the crack epidemic with a heavy hand that criminalized substance use, specifically Black and Brown communities. This campaign led to many of the stigmas we see today and have created a society that is unaccepting of individuals who face addiction and substance use disorders. Today, we have tripled the number of drug overdose deaths since the 1990s. This is no coincidence. It is the result of a societal ill that must be disrupted to create change.
Only by treating addiction as a disease, and not a moral failure, can organizations like yours create successful support systems for all.
We believe that every person, regardless of their cultural or socioeconomic background, should have equal access to recovery support systems that take into account their individual needs. By working with national and local recovery organizations, we help build equitable programs for everyone - not just the few who have the financial ability to find success.
We strongly advocate for legislation that will help improve the quality of resources made available to those affected by substance use and, together, we want to help build supportive environments where no one seeking help is left behind.
Our Values
Recovery Organization Resources was founded on the idea of being a force for good for those seeking support toward recovery. The premise of the work that we do is rooted in five core values that guide our way:
Recovery As An Active Process
Recovery, as defined by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery is an active process and it encompasses the eight dimensions of wellness as identified by SAMHSA: emotional, social, occupational, intellectual, environmental, financial, spiritual, and physical. We work to ensure that the organizations we partner with have programs and support systems in place that help address each of these eight dimensions.
Community Building and Engagement:
We believe that the communities and environments we create have a big impact on a person’s recovery success. If not built with care, an organization that wishes to do good can actually do more harm. It is important to us that we help our partner organizations assess the environments they’ve built and build up any areas of opportunity that may exist in fostering a supportive environment for all.
Continued Learning and Growth
At ROR, learning and acquiring knowledge is a fluid, ever-evolving process. We learn everyday through the interactions we have, people we meet, and through new scientific studies and data that are released. We are on a non-stop journey of discovering new things and creating useful resources based on new information we obtain. We share these resources with our community to help keep them informed in real-time and to provide more access to information so that the cycle of learning and growth can continue.
Cultural Humility
We understand that each and every person is different and brings their own set of valuable life experiences with them in everyday interactions. Our cultures and identities are important pieces to who we are, however, in acknowledging this, we also aim to acknowledge that the backgrounds and experiences of others are also equally as important. We strive to foster an atmosphere of understanding and listening to voices different from our own in an attempt to grow together and become change agents for good within the recovery space.
Actionable Advocacy
In addition to doing the work in our communities, we use our platform to advocate for legislation and programs that will impact those that are beyond our organization’s reach. We join in alignment with the lawmakers and community leaders who fight for change and more compassionate treatment of those facing substance use disorders.
Our Commitment to You.
We are committed to providing resources to all those who seek help from us. We will always be there to listen and to provide support. When working with organizations, we will be open and honest in the recommendations we provide and will always stay centered on the goal of making a more equitable environment for those in recovery who need it most. This is our unending mission and it is one that every member of our ROR team is deeply passionate about. No more families and communities should have to face addiction without support. 90% of Americans who face addiction do not receive treatment. Behind this stat are over 19 million families and people who need us to embrace them and warmly support them through a journey of recovery and wellness