The Hope Cooperative
Hope Lives Here.
Find us where a community comes together. Where we help our neighbors and friends when they need it the most. Where we shine a light on addiction and mental health hygiene without shame. Together, we aim to build a road to wellness.
United, we choose hope.
Mental Health Matters
Language Matters
Research has shown that the words we use to describe substance use disorders (SUD) have a significant impact on those struggling with addiction and how they are treated.
Addiction Policy Forum’s three minute video explains why five commonly used addiction terms need to be erased from your vocabulary, and offers suggestions for what to say instead.
Whirlpools of Risk
Not everyone who uses alcohol or drugs develops a substance use disorder (SUD)—why is that?
The Hijacker
Learn about how substance use disorders (SUDs) affect tissue function in two main parts of the brain: the limbic system (responsible for basic survival instincts) and the prefrontal cortex (where decision-making and impulse control live).
The good news – SUDs are preventable and treatable, and brain scans show that once an individual is in recovery, brain tissue can get better.
Don’t Wait for Rock Bottom
The concept of “rock bottom” can help people describe their experience of recovery from addiction by turning it into a narrative with a clear event that helped turn their life around. But the idea that we should wait for the disease to get worse before seeking treatment is dangerous.
Substance use disorders get worse over time. The earlier treatment starts the better the chances for long-term recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling, don’t wait—reach out for help.
The videos above were produced by the Addiction Policy Forum.
This initiative was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,000,000 with 100% funded by HRSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit: Acknowledge HRSA Funding