At that moment, all I could think about was how small my life had become. A small box of downtown and every single-occupancy locking bathroom between the Waterfront and the base of the West Hills. We hopped on the MAX, met the man, and split our bag. I knew I wanted to try again. Try to get sober. Try treatment again. I was done being miserable, cold, dopesick, wet, and alone. I was tired of "friends" whose only goal was to get what you got if you had anything. I knew at that moment that I was capable of so much more than being a junkie...

It can be said it takes a whole community to help get people into recovery and arrest the disease of addiction and provide services for mental health. There are many community Organizations that go into supporting just a single person to accomplish this goal. There is no final destination or finish line. There is only progress and the people you meet on the journey

When I sobered up in 1977, there was no such thing as dual diagnosis. Depression was dismissed as a “sincere form of self-pity.” … Once, during my first year, I was speaking in a meeting in the basement of the Alano Club, trying to work out something about my self-image, and Don, who enjoyed putting people in their places, stood up and said, “Self-image, schmelf-image! You’re an ALCOHOLIC!”

During these fearful times, one can’t help but worry about what’s going to happen next. When it feels like the world has turned upside down, the uncertain future can produce fear and anxiety, even in people who have not struggled with it in the past. Stan Popovich offers a list of techniques and suggestions on how to deal with this fear of the unknown.

This is the blog I was never going to write. “Who am I to write about being queer and living with Crohn’s?” I kept asking myself. There are certainly far better LGBTQ+ advocates in the IBD community, people who are confident, showing us excellent examples of positivity and joy.

My name is Terry. I'm an alcoholic. My sobriety date is April 22nd, 1995. I'll give you a little bit of a background on where I came from and what it was like, and then share some recovery tools that have really impacted my life and made me become the person I am today.

The truth is that grief has and is touching us all, especially in our current moment. We are allowed to grieve the time we’ve lost to COVID-19 and recognize the monumental loss of life we are facing. Chances are you or someone you know has lost someone to this virus. We don’t get to hold funerals for them…

This historic moment for the U.S. has, in part, been paved by the hard work of Oregon's network of #peers like those at Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon! Hopefully, this is only the beginning for Oregon's government and health care system caring for drug users and those in recovery in the ways they need and deserve.

While at home from the pandemic, finding a small amount of time in the day to practice art, whether it’s through writing, painting, drawing, etc can provide an outlet for expressing your emotions while creating something beautiful. The therapeutic effects of art-making shows how creative expression is a safe, fun way to experiment and find meaning in your life.

During the #CongressGoesPurple observance of National Recovery Month, Congresswoman Haaland wrote on Twitter “As someone who is in recovery, I want to offer a message of hope to anyone struggling with addiction. You are strong and you have my support.”

Here’s our shortlist of the best teas to try to relieve symptoms of everything from depression and anxiety to insomnia and chronic fatigue! Read on to learn how you can use the simple ritual of tea drinking to ground yourself throughout the day.

“I was given the opportunity to attend a national drug conference in Anaheim, CA with the judge who sent me to prison for the last time. This is the picture that was captured of Judge Bloche and I. WE DO RECOVER!” - Reina Bower, MHAAO’s EVOLVE Director

MHAAO was honored to receive the Oregonian's Appreciation Award, and to be ranked 3rd best small employers on their list of Top Workplaces! MHAAO was also ranked 7th on Oregon Business's 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For list for medium-sized organizations.

According to MHAAO’s Executive Director, Janie Gullickson, “We need this initiative right now because if people are getting put in jail during this pandemic, it’s risking everyone’s lives, especially if it’s for a health-related issue, such as addiction.”

In honor of Recovery Month 2020, we are highlighting some of our amazing Peer Support Specialists’ recovery stories! Thank you to all of those in recovery who continue to show up for their peers and be a beacon of hope in these difficult times!

Being named as a 2020 Top Workplace, for the second consecutive time and year, comes as the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon is experiencing incredible growth, both regionally and nationwide.

On the dark streets of a college town, two teenagers hoisted a rock and ended a man’s life. His loved ones want to know when we’ll finally value the lives of homeless people.