Honoring Recovery Month: Community Resources and Support

Dear Spark Community,

September is officially Recovery Month — an important time to honor the courage and resilience of those in recovery. It is also an opportunity to recognize the organizations that support individuals and families affected by substance use disorder throughout the year.

For ongoing support, we encourage you to connect with Natick 180, a leading local resource for prevention, treatment, and recovery. View additional recovery support here.

Always remember: You belong. You are valued. Recovery is possible.

~ The Spark Kindness Team

Preventing Youth Substance Use Disorder

Resources compiled by Natick 180 regarding youth substance use disorder:

• Natick 180 Resources on Youth Substance Use
• "7 Ways to Protect Your Teen from Alcohol and other Drugs" from Mass Department of Public Health
• Call2Talk (crisis call & text line) and Mass211 (connects callers to info about critical health and human services available in their community)
• Information about how to obtain Narcan is HERE
• Mental Health and Resilience Resource Tip Sheets:
  • Promoting Resilience in Middle Schoolers - available here
  • Strategies for Healthy Habits and Self-Care - available here
  • When to Seek Professional Support - available here

View additional Substance Use Disorder Prevention Resources here. View Mental Health Resources here.

Recovery is REAL (Restoring Every Aspect of Life)

In recognition of Recovery Month, MetroWest partner towns developed a regional calendar highlighting different activities to promote wellness. View the calendar and activities in more detail here.

Featured Program: The Opioid Project

View the online exhibit, The Opioid Project from the Health Story Collaborative, that uses art and audio storytelling to create a safe space for those affected by the opioid epidemic to share their experiences, reduce stigma, and spark meaningful community dialogue.

The works include deeply personal stories of both recovery and loss, many created by individuals from the MetroWest, MA area. View the Natick, MA stories here and Framingham, MA stories here.

Upcoming Local Recovery Events

Purple Flags Display: Sat 9/12 displayed through Sat 9/26 at First Congregational Church in Natick. Join SOAR Natick and Natick 180 in helping to create the Purple Flags Display, honoring the 971 lives lost to opioid overdose in MA last year. Volunteers can participate on 9/12 at 8am with installation of the flags. Email SOARnatick@gmail.com with any questions.

Recovery City Film Screening & Panel Discussion: Tues, 9/15 at 6pm at Morse Institute Library in Natick. Register HERE. Recovery City, an acclaimed film by local filmmaker Lisa Olivieri, is "a raw exploration of what it means to be in recovery as seen through the eyes of four women whose lives share a common thread: addiction." Brought to the community by Natick 180, the Town of Natick, the Morse Institute Library and SOAR Natick.