Recovery Works! December 2022

Recovery Works!

The mission of Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services is to ensure that quality alcohol and other drug intervention and treatment, as well as alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention programs are provided for citizens in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

While the holidays certainly bring a lot of excitement and joy, for some the holidays can be a painful reminder of the empty seat at the dinner table. Or for those in recovery, there may be stressful encounters like being asked "what can I get you to drink?", or even just the setting or anticipation of a holiday party can be a lot. Whatever the experience may be this holiday season, it is important to practice healthy coping skills and continue connections to take care of ourselves and our families.

Maintain your recovery and take care of yourself and loved ones this holiday season by engaging with your local recovery and support communities, seeking out resources,

and practicing self care.

Please check out the specific resources below:

Tips for handling grief and the holidays can be found here

Chester County Family Help Book

Be a Part of the Conversation Parent Support

Find a Meeting:

Find an AA Meeting

Find an NA Meeting

Find a MA Meeting

Find an Al-Anon Meeting

Find a Nar-Anon Meeting

Find a Mar-Anon Meeting

7 Tips to Maintain Recovery during the Holidays

Published by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

1. Hatch a holiday escape plan:

The first tip sounds like a no-brainer, but plan ahead. Holiday-themed parties and family gatherings are often soaked in alcohol, and people are likely to offer you a drink—and they might be dumbstruck when you decline. Plan ahead for uncomfortable situations and triggering environments.

What might your holiday plan involve?

Attend a Twelve-Step meeting beforehand, or invite a sober friend to tag along
Make plans to meet up with your sponsor or talk on the phone
Find your own transportation, or hitch a ride with someone in your support system
Limit your time around stressful situations and difficult people
Prepare to politely refuse alcohol or other drugs
Have an escape plan if things go south

Continue Reading 2-7 Here!

Home for the holidays?! Consider cleaning out your medicine cabinet & safeguarding it's remaining contents. Chester County has over 25 medication disposal boxes which are free and anonymous for safe medication disposal. In addition to cleaning out what is no longer needed or expired, it is important to practice safe keeping in home.

Did you know that approximately 60,000 children are brought to the emergency room each year because they got into medications that

were within their reach?

It is very common for us to take medications, vitamins and other supplements to lead a healthy life. However, any medication, vitamin or supplement can be dangerous if taken incorrectly or by the wrong person such as a child. An initiative of PROTECT, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Up and Away and Out of Sight is an educational program to remind families about the importance of safe medicine storage.

Please see below for campaign resources:

Up and Away Campaign Brochure

Medication Safety Coloring Pages

Dispose of Unneeded or Expired Medications in Chester County

Request a Free In Home Medicine Safety Box

Log onto the Up and Away Campaign website for more information.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & The Importance of Self Care

When a person has experienced significant ACEs, their body may make more or less stress hormones than is healthy. This can lead to physical and/or mental health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, anxiety, smoking, or unhealthy use of alcohol or other drugs.

Did you know that that healthy nutrition, regular exercise, restful sleep, practicing mindfulness, building social connections, and getting mental health support can help decrease stress hormones and improve health?

The Chester County ACEs Coalition has created a Self Care Tool that has some goals to help support a persons health.

Check out the Self Care Tool Here

Community Events and Training's

Accessing Adult Serving Systems in Chester County (Virtual)

Identify the Chester County Adult Serving Systems and describe the criteria required to access and use each system. Presenters From: Adult Probation, Aging, Chester County Prison, Community Development, Drug and Alcohol, Health Department, Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

8:30am-12:00pm

Chester County Overdose Prevention Task Force Meeting

Please join the Chester County Overdose Prevention Task Force for our quarterly meeting, which will take place in person. The meeting will cover year end reporting, an introduction to new providers in the county & their teamwork in the Phoenixville area (MVP and Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems Phoenixville), as well as include time for networking.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Chester County Government Services Center, Room 351W

601 Westtown Road, West Chester, Pa 19380

1:30pm-3:00pm

Past Chester County Events coordinated by Be a Part of the Conversation

A Haven Grief Support Groups

A Haven offers various grief support groups and grief resources for children (ages 3-18) and their caregiver(s). All our support groups are offered at no cost to our families. Our support groups are located at our center in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Would you like your community news, event, or training to be shared?

Email: kgenthert@chesco.org

You're Invited!

A Haven, the child and family grief center in Exton, is holding their annual Candle Lighting Ceremony in honor of loved ones who have died. This simple ceremony serves as a chance to pause in remembrance before the hustle and bustle of late December sets in.

Click here to RSVP for the event

The need to talk with kids about alcohol starts much younger than many of us realize. Around age 8 children consider more seriously the messages seen and heard outside the home. And, in a culture that celebrates craft beer and holiday spirits, there are many messages that make alcohol seem intriguing. Rather than waiting till kids have already experimented with alcohol, prevention professionals recommend having conversations early and often to ensure kids know their parents' values regarding underage drinking and how harmful it can be to a developing brain. If your kids are older, don't worry. It's never too early or too late to talk with kids about alcohol. #wcyouthmatter

For More Information on the WC Communities that Care, Click Here.

Information Opportunity!

Did you know......

There are several other county departments who send out community newsletters and announcements just like this one. If you're interested, sign up here.