Have you ever wondered how personal experiences shape the vision and passion of leaders in the recovery space? In a past episode of the podcast “Sober Stories,” host Beth Bowen sat down with our CEO, Shannon Van Deman. With a deeply personal connection to the recovery community, Shannon shared insights on what the recovery space is getting right, what needs improvement, and her vision for the future. Her story is a compelling blend of personal tragedy and professional dedication. Let’s remember some of the key points of that remarkable conversation.

The Intersection of Personal and Professional Life

Shannon Van Deman’s journey into the recovery field has been profoundly shaped by her personal experiences. As the CEO of AspenRidge Recovery, Shannon shared with the audience that she has dedicated her career to behavioral health. However, her brother’s struggle with addiction gave her mission a deeply personal touch. Here is a recap on that topic:

• Shannon’s Background: Shannon told us “I am a business person by training, but I’ve dedicated my life to this field.” Her professional path has always been intertwined with behavioral health. Despite her business training, she found her calling in the recovery field, driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
• Personal Connection: She recounted, “My brother actually passed away from alcoholism two months before I took this job… kind of in honor of him and like, we’ve made great strides here. Let’s see what we can do now in this other area.” Shannon’s brother’s addiction and his tragic passing in January 2021 left an indelible mark on her life. This personal loss became a catalyst for her transition from children’s mental health to substance abuse treatment, propelling her to honor her brother’s memory.
• Family Impact: Shannon is no stranger to addiction. Her family history has been marked by her mother and uncles’ struggles with alcoholism, leading to a backdrop of codependency and untreated mental health issues. Shannon emphasized the need for comprehensive and compassionate care in the field of addiction recovery due to her experiences. “All of her brothers, her three brothers all became alcoholics. And then my brother became an alcoholic. So it was very, very prevalent in my family,” she explained.

Shannon reflected on how the societal understanding of addiction has evolved over the years. She noted the stark differences between the past, where functioning alcoholics were often considered normal as long as they could hold a job, and the present, where there is a growing awareness of the broader impacts of addiction on families and communities.

The Evolution of Addiction Perception and Treatment

In their conversation, Shannon and Beth discussed the evolving perceptions and treatment methods in the addiction recovery field. Shannon emphasized the progress made over the years while also highlighting areas that require improvement. Let’s remember some of the key points:

• Changing Perceptions: Shannon observed how perceptions of addiction and treatment have evolved. “It’s been interesting to see not only how perceptions have changed, how the conversations changed, how the field has changed,” she noted. She emphasized the importance of understanding addiction not as a moral failing but as a complex interplay of mental health and social factors.
• Untreated Mental Health: Shannon shared her brother’s experience with undiagnosed Asperger’s and its impact on his addiction. “For sure, my mom had untreated mental health diagnoses that set up a dynamic in the family that was extremely challenging. And for my brother, he for sure had Asperger’s, but it was undiagnosed,” she explained. This lack of diagnosis and subsequent depression led to his alcoholism and self-medication.
• Integration of Fields: Shannon spoke about the ongoing efforts to integrate mental health and substance use treatment. “For a long time, the substance use field has been separate from the mental health field and they’re working on bringing those together,” she said. She highlighted the need for a holistic approach that addresses both mental health and substance use simultaneously.

Shannon also discussed the broader societal and cultural changes needed to support recovery. She emphasized the importance of human connection and meaningful relationships in preventing addiction. “There’s the bigger societal cultural thing that we need to do in understanding the importance of human connection and the way that we’re setting things up to foster that to help prevent a lot of these things from happening anyways,” she stated.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Recovery Space

Shannon and Beth discussed the challenges and opportunities in the recovery space. Shannon’s experiences offer a unique perspective. Here are the highlights of those moments:

• Personal Impact: Our beloved CEO shared how working in the recovery field is both rewarding and challenging on a personal level. “I think that sometimes the things that we’re trying to do to improve the way that we’re dealing with treatment and you run into things like insurance company bureaucracy or whatever. Yeah. I mean, it feels more personal,” she admitted. The emotional toll and the bureaucratic challenges can make the work feel intensely personal and urgent.
• Rewarding Aspects: Despite the challenges, Shannon finds immense fulfillment in her work. “I think the really cool thing about being here is to see people who recover and to see that recovery is possible,” she said. Witnessing the success stories and being part of those journeys is incredibly rewarding for her.
• Advocacy for Change: Shannon is passionate about pushing for necessary reforms in the field. She believes that her personal experiences fuel her advocacy efforts. “But I do think that it leads to a passion and vision that are the things that are going to push reform where it needs to happen in order for us to be able to provide people with what they need,” she emphasized.

Shannon also spoke about the importance of changing the way society views addiction and recovery. She highlighted the need to shift from a deficit-based approach to one that builds resilience and protective factors. “You know, we’ve found that the presence of strength within you, so having some protective factors of resiliency, is more predictive of success than the absence of needs,” she explained. Building a supportive community and fostering meaningful connections are key components of successful recovery.

Vision for the Future of Recovery and Mental Health

Shannon shared her vision for the future of recovery and mental health integration, demonstrating a deep understanding of the complexities involved and a strong commitment to driving positive change. Let’s remember some of her ideas:

• Parity vs. Unique Needs: There is an ongoing fight for parity between mental health and physical health treatment, while also acknowledging the unique aspects of addiction recovery. “For a long, long time, we’ve been fighting for parity with the belief that if we could just be treated equal to the medical field or the physical health field, that we will have reached the promised land,” she explained. However, she also recognized that addiction recovery requires a different approach. “The truth is that it’s not the same. And so, a lot of the trying to bring this forward to that type of a system versus actually understanding the complex, integrated human beings that we are,” she added.
• Human Connection: Shannon emphasized the importance of building meaningful relationships and community support in preventing addiction. “Certain things like connection and meaningful relationships and housing stability and, you know, base level things aren’t services that are like, you know, provided on a payment schedule,” she noted.
• Societal and Cultural Changes: Shannon stressed the need for broader societal changes to support recovery, including reducing stigma and shame around substance use. “There’s still this real shame and blame around substance use thinking you’re just weak. It’s a lack of willpower. You should just decide,” she said. She believes that education and advocacy are crucial in changing these perceptions. “We need to continue to work on education and advocacy and helping people understand, you know, the progression and how it gets to be to this point and that people can succeed,” she emphasized.

Shannon’s vision for the future of recovery and mental health is grounded in a compassionate and holistic approach that addresses both the individual and societal factors contributing to addiction. Her commitment to fostering human connection and building resilience offers a hopeful path forward for those struggling with addiction.

Addressing Stigma and Blame

Shannon and Beth discussed the stigma and blame associated with addiction, emphasizing the negative impact on those seeking help. Let’s address these concerns:

• Overcoming Shame: Shannon emphasized the need to address stigma and the blame culture around addiction. “We need to continue to address the issue of stigma and the blame culture and the shaming culture around this and get it to a point where people feel okay to ask for help,” she stressed. The shame and blame associated with addiction often prevent individuals from seeking the help they need.
• Education and Advocacy: Shannon believes education and advocacy are critical in changing societal attitudes towards addiction. “The amount of attention on mental health in the last couple of years compared to what it was 20 years ago when I started this is remarkable,” she noted. However, she pointed out that substance use still carries a significant stigma. “But there’s still this real shame and blame around substance use, thinking you’re just weak. It’s a lack of willpower. That you should just decide,” she said.
• Telling Stories of Recovery: Shannon highlighted the importance of sharing recovery stories to demonstrate that change is possible and to provide hope to those struggling. “I think that telling stories of recovery like you’re doing is hugely important. That it is possible and that, you know, that there’s hope available to them,” she said. These stories help challenge the misconception that recovery is unattainable.

Shannon emphasized the importance of changing the way we perceive addiction. Instead of seeing it as a moral failing, we should recognize it as a complex issue influenced by various factors. She pointed out that in mental health, people would say someone “has” cancer, but refer to someone as “a schizophrenic” or “an alcoholic.” This language shift is crucial in changing perceptions and reducing stigma.

The Importance of Early Intervention

In the conversation, AspenRidge’s CEO emphasized the critical role of early intervention in preventing and addressing substance use issues. She highlighted the gaps in current approaches and the need for proactive measures.

• Recognizing Warning Signs: Shannon discussed the importance of educating the public on recognizing the early warning signs of substance use issues. “There’s a real lack of understanding out there, well, what’s too much and when should I be concerned and what’s the responsible use? And how do I know if I have a problem? How do I know if the person beside me has a problem? What can I do about that?” she explained. Thus, providing this information can help individuals and their loved ones take action before the situation escalates.
• Controversial Conversations: Shannon spoke about the need to challenge the abstinence-only message and provide realistic guidance to those who might not be ready or able to abstain completely. “There’s this really strong abstinence-based message, which for certain populations makes sense. But there’s a point when you aren’t at that point. Before you get to that point, had you had information, you might never have gotten to that point,” she noted. Shannon compared this approach to comprehensive sex education, where providing information about safe practices can prevent negative outcomes.
• Support Systems: Shannon highlighted the importance of creating support systems and informed communities to prevent individuals from hitting rock bottom. “This idea of rock bottom is more apt to happen in the absence of information. And if we’re not educating people and we’re not giving them information so that they know like, oh, I might be getting into dangerous territory here, or, oh, there should be some concern,” she explained. By offering support and education, we can help individuals seek help earlier and avoid severe consequences.
• Addressing Stigma: Shannon emphasized the role of stigma in delaying early intervention. “There’s still this real shame and blame around substance use thinking you’re just weak. It’s a lack of willpower. You should just decide,” she said. Reducing stigma through education and advocacy can encourage more people to seek help sooner.

Shannon’s insights underline the importance of early intervention in preventing and addressing substance use issues. By recognizing warning signs, providing realistic guidance, creating support systems, and addressing stigma, we can help individuals seek help before reaching a crisis point. This proactive approach can lead to better outcomes and a more supportive environment for those struggling with substance use.

Support for Loved Ones

Beth and Shannon also explored the challenges faced by family members and loved ones of individuals struggling with addiction. Shannon provided valuable insights into how to support someone dealing with substance use issues while maintaining personal boundaries and self-care.

• Guidance for Families: Shannon emphasized the importance of seeking professional guidance when concerned about a loved one’s substance use. “Almost any facility that you call, AspenRidge being one of them, is prepared with the right people to answer the phone, to have that conversation with you, to ask you some questions, to figure things out, to give you ideas of next steps, to give you resources, things that you can read, things that you can look into,” she explained. Professional advice can help families navigate the complex and emotional process of supporting a loved one with addiction.
• Self-Preservation: Shannon highlighted the need for family members to practice self-care and set boundaries to protect their own well-being. “You can’t save someone from themselves. They have to want it for themselves,” she stated. This realization is crucial for family members to avoid burnout and maintain their own mental health while supporting their loved one.
• Seeking Help for the Family: Shannon also recommended that family members seek their own support through therapy or support groups. “There are all kinds of support out there for that individual that’s feeling that way,” she noted. Family members can benefit from professional guidance and peer support to cope with the challenges of having a loved one with addiction.

Shannon’s insights emphasize the importance of maintaining a delicate balance when supporting a loved one struggling with addiction. Seeking professional guidance, setting boundaries, and practicing self-care can help family members support their loved ones effectively without neglecting their own well-being.

Looking Forward

Finally, both women discussed the future of the recovery field, highlighting recent advancements and ongoing efforts to improve addiction treatment and support systems. Let’s recap the highlights of this topic:

• Investment and Innovation: Shannon noted the increasing investment in mental health and addiction recovery, pointing out legislative support and funding initiatives. “If you look at the CARES Act, there was a ton of money put out there to address these things. And the state of Colorado just passed a whole bunch of bills for innovation around a whole lot of areas,” she said. This financial support is fostering innovation and opening up new opportunities for treatment.
• Integration of Services: Shannon emphasized the importance of integrating mental health and substance use treatment to address the interconnected nature of these issues. “The recognition of the integration, the fact that we’re integrating the fields of mental health and the substance use field is an understanding of the relationship, that they’re not distinct, that they’re interrelated, I think is like a really good step in the direction,” she explained. This holistic approach aims to provide more comprehensive care for individuals in recovery.
• Addressing Isolation and Loneliness: Shannon highlighted the role of social determinants in recovery, particularly the impact of isolation and loneliness. “How are we challenging the cultural norms that exist within society that are preventing us from connecting to the world, how are we challenging people in authentic and meaningful ways that are leading to this pandemic of loneliness and isolation?” she asked. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering a supportive environment for recovery.
• Proactive Education: Shannon advocated for proactive education to prevent substance use issues before they escalate. “Why can’t we start having those conversations? Why don’t we start putting that information out there?” she questioned. Providing information about responsible use and early warning signs can help individuals make informed decisions and seek help earlier.
• Expanding Access to Care: Shannon discussed the importance of expanding access to care through telehealth and other innovative solutions. “We also do telehealth across the state as well,” she mentioned. Telehealth and other remote services can help reach individuals who might not have access to traditional in-person treatment.

Shannon’s vision for the future of recovery is grounded in innovation, integration, and proactive education. By increasing investment, integrating services, addressing social determinants, and expanding access to care, the recovery field can continue to evolve and provide better support for those struggling with addiction.

AspenRidge Recovery Can Help

Shannon’s profound understanding of the changing landscape of addiction recovery underscores the urgent need for compassionate, integrated, and innovative approaches. By combating stigma, advocating for early intervention, providing support to loved ones, and embracing holistic care, the recovery field has the power to inspire meaningful change and offer hope to those grappling with addiction. AspenRidge Recovery with Shannon as CEO, stands at the forefront of these endeavors, offering comprehensive support and treatment options. Whether you or a loved one are in need of assistance, AspenRidge Recovery is here to compassionately support you on your path to recovery.