Sober Perspectives from the Lake

The INTERSECTIONS Exchange team is joined by author and consultant Suzanne Thistle (MA, MLADC) to hear her perspectives on natural recovery. Thistle shares her personal experiences in the recovery world as well as her journey interviewing 101 individuals in New Hampshire about their recovery for her book. In tandem with the INTERSECTIONS philosophy of interdisciplinary treatment, Thistle’s work illustrates the power of holistic recovery and peer support.

Topics Discussed

• Suzanne Thistle’s personal recovery experience and authorship journey
• Importance of peer support in recovery
• Discussion of medicated and medication-free sobriety
• Difficulties faced by individuals in early recovery (physical, mental emotional)
• Summary of the INTERSECTIONS Program

Resources

• Chem-Free Sobriety: 101 Trailblazers share wisdom and insight about their natural recovery from substance use disorders by Suzanne Thistle
• I’m afraid no one will help me with my sobriety
• How can I overcome addiction in a rural community?
• Am I addicted to pills?
• Do I have to stop drinking forever?

Resources Mentioned

• “Recovery has to work for the individual person so what we’re trying to accomplish here is we’re just putting out all different possibilities, all different ways that you can find your recovery if you’re struggling with addiction.” – Andrew O’Grady
• “There’s so much hope out there for people today and I love that you guys are talking about recovery support workers and case managers…it’s good to see that we’re integrating mental health and addiction.” – Suzanne Thistle
• “We can’t medicate our way out and we can’t arrest our way out [of treating substance abuse], we really need to look at the underlying issues and work on those one step at a time.” – Suzanne Thistle
• “You have mental health over here with a little entry door, and you have addictions over here with a separate entry door, and the idea is: let’s make that entry door wider so that everybody can come in.” – Dr. Larry Force