Connecticut Valley Addiction Recovery Inc.

10/27/2026

🧠 YOU CAN’T HEAL IN SURVIVAL MODE.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs reminds us that safety and stability create a foundation for healing and growth.

🏠 Housing. 🍎 Food. 💰 Income. 🩺 Healthcare. 📚 Education. 🛡️ Safety.

How can someone focus on recovery while struggling to meet their most basic needs?

Recovery is about more than stopping substance use. It’s about building a life worth living.

💚 At Connecticut Valley Addiction Recovery (CVAR), we recognize that recovery takes more than clinical treatment alone. Through person-centered care, case management, recovery coaching, and community partnerships, we help connect people with resources that support stability and lasting recovery.

We must stop asking, “Why can’t this person get better?”* and start asking, *“What do they need to move forward?”*

My belief is simple: Being born means you deserve to have your basic needs met. Not because you’ve earned it, but because you’re human.

💚 Meet the needs. See the person. Support the recovery.

10/27/2026

🚗💚 COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: WHEELS FOR WARMTH

Reliable transportation can make a difference when it comes to accessing healthcare, attending appointments, and connecting with recovery support.

CVAR is sharing this upcoming opportunity from Wheels for Warmth, a fundraiser that helps Vermont families stay warm while offering an affordable way to purchase tires and responsibly recycle unwanted ones.

🗓️ AFFORDABLE TIRE SALE

📅 Saturday, October 31, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

📍 Vermont Granite Museum
7 Jones Brothers Way, Barre, VT

📍 Casella Construction
1385 US-7, Pittsford, VT

TIRE PRICES:

13", 14" and single tires - Free
15" - $15 per tire
16" - $20 per tire
17" - $25 per tire
18" and larger - $30 per tire
ALL TIRES HALF PRICE STARTING AT 10AM!

♻️ TIRE COLLECTION

📅 Thursday and Friday, October 29–30
⏰ 1:00–5:00 PM

📍 91 Buck Drive, Westminster, VT 91 Buck Drive, Westminster, VT

• Donate usable, DMV-inspected tires at no charge.
• Recycle unwanted tires starting at $5 per tire.

Wheels for Warmth also accepts donations of usable, DMV-inspected tires and offers recycling for unwanted tires starting at $5 per tire.

💚 Sharing community resources is one way we can help reduce everyday barriers and support individuals and families throughout our community.

📌 Learn more here: https://support.capstonevt.org/campaign/wheels-for-warmth/c356135
https://sevca.org/wheels-for-warmth

You can help provide emergency heating assistance to vulnerable Vermonters this winter. Give today to help hundreds of people from across Vermont find...

10/22/2026

💙 Could Methamphetamine Be the Most Addictive Substance?

In this video, a doctor shares his opinion based on his experience working with 500 patients. While every person's experience with addiction is different, understanding substance use can help us replace judgment with compassion.

Behind every struggle is a person, and every person deserves support, dignity, and the opportunity to recover.

💙 Support is available at Connecticut Valley Addiction Recovery (CVAR).

Our Contingency Management program supports individuals working to reduce or stop stimulant use, including methamphetamine and co***ne. Through positive reinforcement, the program encourages treatment participation and helps individuals work toward their recovery goals.

✨ **Recovery is possible. Every step forward matters.**

📋 📋 Want to learn more about CVAR's Contingency Management program? 💙

Check out Connecticut Valley Addiction Recovery's (CVAR) stimulant use group, see comments below.

📞 Contact CVAR at 802-674-9400 for more information.

10/19/2026

💚 Your Recovery. Your Story. Your Support.

Recovery is personal. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and no two people's stories are exactly alike.

At Connecticut Valley Addiction Recovery (CVAR), person-centered care means seeing the person beyond their diagnosis, circumstances, or struggles with substance use.

🤝 It means:

💚 Your story matters.
💚 Your voice deserves to be heard.
💚 Your goals help guide your care.
💚 Your challenges are met with understanding, not judgment.
💚 Support is available wherever you are in your journey.

You don't have to have everything figured out. You don't have to be ready to change everything overnight. And you don't have to navigate recovery alone.

You are more than your struggles. You are a person deserving of dignity, compassion, and support.

📍 At CVAR, we're here to meet you where you are and help you explore what recovery can look like for you.

💬 Have questions or want to learn more? Reach out to us at 802-674-9400

10/15/2026

💚 Have you checked out CVAR's latest newsletter?

Helping Your Brain Heal: Recovery, Stigma, and the Power of Being Seen

We're exploring addiction, recovery, and the importance of challenging stigma. Everyone deserves to be seen as a whole person and met with compassion rather than judgment.

📖 Read our latest newsletter https://mailchi.mp/2ff0351139a8/krvcvxyq3h-13482053 and join us in changing the conversation around addiction and recovery!

10/06/2026

The Road to Recovery 🛤️

As someone in recovery, I’ve learned that recovery is about so much more than stopping substance use.

Our brains and bodies go through a lot when we’re living with addiction, stress, trauma, and the process of rebuilding our lives. Understanding what’s happening inside our bodies can be another piece of the recovery puzzle.

The **parasympathetic nervous system** helps our bodies move toward a calmer, more rested state after stress.

Things like breathing, mindfulness, movement, sleep, connection, and supportive relationships can all be part of taking care of ourselves in recovery.

But recovery looks different for everyone. There isn't one road or one timeline.

Small steps still count.

💬 What helps YOU feel grounded when stress gets overwhelming?

Maybe it’s taking a walk, listening to music, talking to someone you trust, getting outside, practicing your breathing, or simply giving yourself a moment to slow down.

Share what works for you. You never know who might read your comment and find something that helps them, too. ❤️

Recovery is possible. Support starts with one conversation.

09/30/2026

Why do some people develop addiction while others don’t?

There isn't one single reason. Biology, environment, experiences, stress, and many other factors can interact in complex ways.

Addiction is more complicated than “just make better choices.”

Take a look at the slides below to explore the factors that can shape addiction.

💬 What do you wish more people understood about addiction?

09/25/2026

Kratom: What should you know?

Kratom is an herbal product made from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia. Its effects can vary depending on the amount and type of product, and it can produce both stimulant-like and opioid-like effects.

💬 Have you heard of kratom or 7-OH? What questions do you have about it?

What about 7-OH?

7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly called **7-OH**, is one of the compounds associated with kratom. While it occurs naturally in very small amounts in the plant, some newer products are specifically made with concentrated 7-OH. These products can have much stronger opioid-like effects than traditional kratom products.

Can people become dependent on kratom?

Yes. Regular use can lead to dependence, and some people experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it. Concentrated 7-OH products have raised particular concerns because of their potency and potential for dependence and other serious effects.

At the same time, it is important to separate **what is known from what is still being investigated**. Recent news coverage involving two University of Mississippi students has brought renewed attention to kratom. Kratom was reportedly found during both investigations, but authorities have stated that there is currently **no confirmed information that kratom or another substance contributed to either death.

The research around kratom and concentrated 7-OH products continues to develop. Having an honest conversation about substance use means looking at the risks without relying on fear or assumptions.

If you or someone you know is struggling with kratom, 7-OH, or another substance, you don't have to have everything figured out before reaching out.

At Connecticut Valley Addiction Recovery (CVAR), we provide low-barrier, outpatient substance use and alcohol use disorder treatment in a person-centered environment. Support can include counseling, recovery support, case management, and connections to resources that can help reduce barriers to care.

CVAR also offers Contingency Management for people with stimulant use disorder, a program that provides incentives for meeting treatment goals related to reducing or stopping stimulant use.

You don't have to be ready. Support starts with one conversation.

📞 CVAR: 802-674-9400

Read the recent WMUR report:
[WMUR: What to know about kratom after two Ole Miss students found dead]
https://www.wmur.com/article/kratom-ole-miss-what-to-know/73855457

09/23/2026

Addiction is more than what we see on the surface.

Substance use, missed appointments, conflict, financial problems, or housing instability may be visible signs, but there can be much more underneath.

Trauma. Stress. Grief. Pain. Isolation. Brain changes. Unmet needs.

Looking beneath the behavior can help us respond with understanding instead of judgment.

Look beneath the behavior. Support the whole person.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, support is available.
📞 Connecticut Valley Addiction Recovery: 802-674-9400
Support starts with one conversation.

09/21/2026

😮‍💨 Feeling stressed? Before reaching for a substance, try one of these.

Stress can make old coping patterns feel really tempting. Having a few go-to alternatives can give you another option in that moment.

When stress hits, what do you reach for? 🧠 You could also try these ways to cope without using substances.

🧠 Move your body
Take a walk, stretch, dance, or get outside. Even a few minutes of movement can help shift your mood and release tension.

🌬️ Slow your breathing
Try taking a slow breath in, then making your exhale a little longer. Give your nervous system a chance to settle.

📱 Connect with someone
Text a friend. Call someone you trust. Sit with a supportive person. You don't have to carry a stressful moment by yourself.

🎧 Change your environment
Step outside. Take a shower. Listen to music. Make a cup of tea. Sometimes changing what you're seeing, hearing, and doing can interrupt the stress cycle.

📝 Get it out of your head
Write down what's bothering you, what you can control, and one small thing you can do next.

💙 And remember: You don't have to handle stress perfectly. You just need another option when an old coping strategy starts calling your name.

If substance use has become your way of coping with stress, CVAR can help you find healthier tools and support for making a change.

📞 You don't have to be ready to have all the answers. Start with one conversation.

CVAR | Support starts with one conversation.