Addict 2 Addict, Family 2 Family transcript

Guest:  Cathie Campbell, Peer Recovery Coach

Topic:  Addict 2 Addict, Family 2 Family Program

Duration:  5:29

Published:  June 1, 2021

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs program of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Cathie Campbell, Peer Recovery Coach with Addict 2 Addict, Family 2 Family (A2A, F2F) Program, and your host is yours truly Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program Cathie.

Guest:  Thank you.

Host:  And we appreciate you being with us because you have an exciting new outreach to discuss, but for the benefit of listeners that might not be familiar with it, just what does A2A, F2F do?

Guest:  Well, basically we're a recovery coaching program. We're individuals in recovery so we work with others who are trying to enter recovery, and we link them up with the different pathways towards that recovery or for any type of barriers that may prevent them from not reaching that goal of recovery.

Host:  Alright and on the immediate horizon is a new way of connecting with your consumers to help them on this recovery path that is A2A, F2F Recovery United, which I gather is a mixture of in person and virtual gatherings. How does that work, when does it take place, and what will people get out of it?

Guest:  Well, on Mondays, I have a virtual support group, it runs every Monday. It's from 1:00 to 2:00 o'clock, and we work on what the recovery goal is, how to develop skills that will help them maintain that recovery. We learn the differences between a recovery coach, an addictions counselor, and a sponsor. We learn the differences in peer support and why it's important to get out and get linked up with all the different types of self-help meetings, so that you can develop the support network, so that when you have crisis moments, you don't have to worry about not having somebody answer that phone, and you can get walked back into a safe place.

Host:  Gee, and that’s just on the Monday meetings. What takes place on the other ones?

Guest:  Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:00 to 6:00 and from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. I have the same type of support group. They're going to learn the same things, how to get the recovery skills they need to maintain their recovery, all the different people that can assist them in maintaining that recovery, and the importance of using a support system, especially in the first few years of recovery. Because for the first time many of us are dealing with life on life's terms, and we're used to chasing our feelings away and now we have to learn how to deal with them on a day to day basis.

Host:  Looking at your flyer, I noticed that you even include Narcan trainings as part of your agenda.

Guest:  Yes, everybody is offered Narcan trainings, and they're also provided with their first set of Narcan even individuals who may not need it personally like to get the training because you never know when someone you come across on the street today may need a Narcan.

Host:  And as I understand it, even if you only think somebody is experiencing withdrawal or overdose, it's safe to give people because it won't have effects, if it's not actually needed at the time.

Guest:  Right. It's very safe no matter what. But part of that training is awareness on what an overdose does look like because we are in the middle of an epidemic. Um, so, the more people we can get trained, the better. We even trained family members and businesses. Anybody can call us to get our Narcan training me, Gretchen Vinson and Naomi Taylor, are all trained in providing Narcan training and Narcan kits.

Host:  Alright, we're totally out of time, Cathie, I'm sure people will have questions or want to sign up for the groups, how can they reach you?

Guest:  You can call 716-836-2726 which is our Addict 2 Addict phone line, or you can reach me at 328-3640 and that's my work cell phone.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us Cathie.

Guest:  You're welcome.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Cathie Campbell, Peer Recovery Coach with A2A, F2F and your host was yours truly Ernie Churchwell.