tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40413344352062467202026-08-15T14:26:07.333-07:00Founded in 2004, The McShin Foundation is Virginia's leading non-profit, authentic full service Recovery Community Organization. We are committed to serving individuals and families in their fight against Substance Use Disorders and are changing lives in this process.Honestyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07558655893744922034noreply@blogger.comBlogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-74529506826960196652019-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:002019-05-07T06:00:53.673-07:00

     Is "A Shot of Dope," politically correct? Probably not. The truth is I'm not talking about drugs. I'm not using this as slang either. Instead, it's a metaphor.  A formal noun meaning "A stupid person." I can think of quite a few in the political arena when it come to the ongoing addiction crisis. Ok, maybe a lot.      After watching October 15, 2017's 60

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-5494864263539062532018-03-14T06:46:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:00:06.321-07:00

McShin Marker Project McShin's Marker Project raises awareness to the number of lives lost to Substance Use Disorders in Virginia each year. 

Honestyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07558655893744922034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-34914232327403737932017-11-16T08:04:00.004-08:002019-05-07T06:00:44.506-07:00

At a recent McShin meeting Tim asked to hear from family members affected by the disease of addiction.  This caught my ear, perhaps because I didn’t realize that those in recovery at The McShin Foundation were actually interested in what it might be like for us, the family members of an addict.  Usually when we attend the Wednesday night meetings, the meeting is centered on the addict

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-61555474816127303592017-10-17T07:21:00.002-07:002019-05-07T06:01:35.747-07:00

As many of you know, The McShin Foundation was founded as an authentic peer to peer organization, with the knowledge that the best way to help an individual searching for recovery is to share one’s own lived experience with Substance Use Disorders and Recovery. Because of this, everyone who works at McShin is in recovery, everyone besides me. Because I’m not in recovery, I’m constantly

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-10142207848757610942017-10-16T05:40:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:01:52.193-07:00

  So you walk up to the bench as the judge on the other side looks through his glasses at his documents. He looks up at you and says “Ma’am, I see you're a diabetic?”. “Yes Sir” is your reply, as you hang your head in shame. He then proceeds to remind you that your blood sugar is sky high into the 300 levels. The gavel hits the bench and there is your fate! You're told you will

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-75922312411132687672017-10-09T05:55:00.004-07:002019-05-07T06:02:03.565-07:00

Thank you for letting me back in You thought you got rid of me in the 70s. In the 90s, I was barely a blip on the radar screen, overshadowed by all the new party drugs. I was weaker back then, too, so pure and powerful now. Every new formula more tempting and deadlier than before. I thrive in chaotic, fast-paced worlds where people don’t take the time to talk to each other

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-53829675340629859322017-10-04T07:38:00.004-07:002019-05-07T06:02:11.714-07:00

Why Advocacy in Recovery Fails? By: Tim Alexander                “We must all work in harmony with each other to stand up for what is right, to speak up for what is fair, and to always voice any corrections so that the ignorant become informed and justice is never ignored. Every time a person allows an act of ignorance

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-45169513504865546532017-09-25T05:17:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:03:27.150-07:00

Sometimes my heart gets extremely heavy. So heavy at points it physically hurts. It is all the guilt and shame of things I have done in my past that I can’t do anything about. It sometimes flutters around in my chest and other times it just sits there like a heavy ball right over my heart. It is almost always related to my children. I have two boys. My oldest son is 15 and my youngest son is

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-53247397257999077842017-09-20T13:30:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:03:35.421-07:00

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-25866304971404124002017-09-19T06:19:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:03:43.303-07:00

I Remember By: Tim Alexander       I remember the loneliness. The solitude of misery. The hopelessness that ached in my bones. The poison forcing its way from my pores soaking my sheets with sweat. I'm hot, no wait, I'm freezing. I was shaking uncontrollably and my legs spasmed like a fish out of it's element. The venom purged itself from my body. The bile seared my throat. My

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-1865093705088864252017-09-18T05:32:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:03:53.475-07:00

Ring ring....This is your life calling... Pick up! This is your life calling! Is anyone home? Wham Bam Thank you ma'am Slam a bag of dope & say hello to your death. Bottom of a bottle plunge of a syringe Janice Jimmy Jim all found the end It's your lover  It's your friend It's all you need to depend on Just a quick pick me up Up off the floor  But I NEED some more Need

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-31908343765569901202017-09-15T05:12:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:04:01.018-07:00

Rachel M Blog My name is Rachel and I am a woman in recovery. I have been free of any mind-altering substances for almost nine months. Ridding myself of drugs and alcohol was just the beginning. See heroin does not commit any crimes, crack doesn’t force me to hustle on the street and, alcohol does not demand I drink the whole bottle.  I did those things because I was physically dependent

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-39479158397036407742017-09-13T06:13:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:04:09.943-07:00

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-37146972344376395492017-09-08T05:07:00.000-07:002019-05-07T06:04:19.049-07:00

My name is Erin Mayberry, Director of Female Programs with McShin Foundation and a woman in long term recovery from substance use disorder.  What that means to me is that I have not found it necessary to use a drug or other substitute since November 10, 2014.  Today, I am a better mother, daughter, friend and partner than I have ever been.  I am growing into a woman that loves

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-89433369025418004862017-09-07T11:51:00.002-07:002019-05-07T06:04:26.754-07:00

Brenda Perkins Recovery Story I am an addict and my name is Brenda.  I am a person in long term recovery from a substance use disorder.  What that means for me is that I have not found it necessary to use any mood altering substance since January 17, 2002.  This is part of my story. I was married when I came into recovery.  My husband was injured in a car

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-24160454663390604022017-09-06T10:50:00.005-07:002019-05-07T06:04:35.976-07:00

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-66788517026611116122017-09-06T05:52:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:04:43.693-07:00

 A Recovery Story By: Brandi Fincham My name is Brandi Fincham, a person in recovery, which to me means I haven’t found it necessary to use any mood or mind altering substance since January 17, 2016. I am 28 years old and have a 7-year-old daughter, and also co-parent with my boyfriend & his 2 sons. I started using drugs and alcohol when I was 13 years old. It started with just

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-5991222768996259572017-09-05T08:28:00.000-07:002019-05-07T06:04:51.648-07:00

 Lost at Sea By: Timothy Alexander       I have spent many years at sea. When I set out the idea was to show the world that I could handle life..... alone. I was young and vibrant, full of spirit and surety never fully understanding what that big blue body of experience had in store for me, so I shoved off of the sandy beaches in my old rickety schooner. The sea was

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-14632218024018286142017-06-22T06:41:00.002-07:002019-05-07T06:04:59.998-07:00

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-32800802446280393442016-07-20T12:17:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:05:08.301-07:00

Nicole Z., one of our intensive female participants, shares her story with us; what her life was like and what it's like now that she's found a new way to live.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-83468733706429981902016-07-11T11:44:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:05:16.494-07:00

Today we got a chance to hear a little bit about Erin's experience as a McShin resident and how the McShin Foundation has been instrumental in her ability to stay clean and serene! 

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-2390726276069567932016-07-04T13:20:00.003-07:002019-05-07T06:05:22.761-07:00

Officers forced to change tactics as Fentanyl deaths soar [LINK] RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Deaths from the powerful painkiller Fentanyl are soaring in Virginia, and 8News has learned it’s changing the way law enforcement is responding to overdoses. “I knew what Fentanyl was, I knew it was more potent, I knew it was the supposedly most potent opioid in the world and I started seeking that

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-936972310369857182016-07-04T13:20:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:05:30.131-07:00

Officers forced to change tactics as Fentanyl deaths soar [LINK] RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Deaths from the powerful painkiller Fentanyl are soaring in Virginia, and 8News has learned it’s changing the way law enforcement is responding to overdoses. “I knew what Fentanyl was, I knew it was more potent, I knew it was the supposedly most potent opioid in the world and I started seeking that

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-67383489546881125512016-06-27T10:11:00.000-07:002019-05-07T06:05:36.487-07:00

From jail to recovery from substance use disorder! Why McShin's recovery program "stuck"while her past experiences in treatment centers and rehabs failed to provide her with sustained recovery.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041334435206246720.post-56051354297142081062016-06-23T07:07:00.001-07:002019-05-07T06:05:42.369-07:00

What makes McShin Foundation's peer-to-peer recovery model more effective than the acute care treatment model? We caught up with two of our male peer leaders to discuss how the McShin program is working in their lives.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com