“She’s funny. She makes me laugh all the time. She’s loving and caring. And I think it’s really cool just to see the fact that my mom has built, like, a network of people that genuinely care about her and her sobriety.”

Connection and community have been a big part of Bella’s mom’s recovery journey. But Bella and her mom have also faced discrimination because of her mom’s experience with substance use disorder (SUD), including as a person in recovery. “I had a friend who I loved hanging out with, and she was my first friend that I made when I moved here. Her mom found about the situation my mom had been through and told me to stop hanging out with her, that she thought I was a bad influence.” Losing that friendship brought back old memories for Bella. “I just feel like it set me back into that girl who just wanted to be accepted no matter what.”

Negative attitudes and beliefs about SUD can tear friends and communities apart. Today Bella overcomes those challenges by owning her family story and continuing to be a champion for her mom. "I had to tell my mom and myself that if they don’t want to hang out with us, that’s their loss, because we’re pretty funny. I love to think that my mom is one of the best people I’ve ever met. And if somebody wants to miss out on that blessing, then that’s their choice.”

Bella is so proud of her mom’s personal growth, and she’s grateful she had access to care. “She’s more than [her substance use disorder]. She’s a mom. She’s a daughter. She’s an amazing counselor now that helps moms teach other moms how to parent. Even though it took so long to get here, I’m glad that finally when she wanted help, it was available.” Help is available, and our families can and do recover.

#GARecovers #GARecoversTogether