I have a passion for helping people find wellness on their own terms, and people who use drugs are no exception. I have been in recovery from cocaine use for 27 years as of the time I’m writing this page (Valentine’s Day, 1996), and finding multilayered wellness is the thing that has helped me maintain it for so long.
In this section of the site, I will talk specifically about all things related to addiction, harm reduction, and recovery, with a focus on the leather, fetish, and kink communities. As the founder of a nonprofit that focuses on support for people affected by addiction, I take guidance from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) definition of recovery: “a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.”
In short, if you’re doing better, if you’re improving and gaining control of your life again, you’re doing it right. Don’t get caught up in trying to decide if you’re “recovered enough”, and for the love please stop listening to anyone who tells you their way is the only way. The only way to recover is the way that works for you.
At its core, recovery is about personal growth. Do the best you can right now and keep doing your best. Your best today isn’t going to be as good as you’ll be capable of next week, but as you feel better you’ll be able do better.
Wherever you are in your path, know that you are valued and you are loved.