Michael's HOPE
Donation protected
Michael’s HOPE
Website
(Heroin and Opiate Prevention Education)
501(c)3 nonprofit organization
Our belief is very simple: that education is the foundation to recovery, not only for the abuser but for the families and communities as well. With that understanding, it seems very evident to us at Michael’s HOPE that education must begin with the youth. While we understand being reactive to the current epidemic that has touched far too many of our lives is important, we believe sincerely that it is our duty to be proactive to the fullest extent possible for the younger generation inheriting this problem. We believe addiction often begins with one uniformed decision made by a child who simply doesn’t understand what he or she is dealing with. The harsh reality remains that substances are becoming readily accessible to our children at younger ages each year. Thorough education needs to begin with the youth for the purpose of giving children the opportunity to make an informed decision for their lives when confronted with these substances.
Michaels HOPE presents stories from those who have been directly affected by addiction. We aim to raise awareness of the current epidemic we are living through, how addiction comes to pass for many, and very passionately for us the tremendous hopes of being a helping hand in ending the negative stigma connected to addiction as a whole. We have a saying here at Michael’s HOPE which represents everything we stand for: "The ugliest disease lies in the most beautiful people.” We hope by doing everything we can to get as many people as possible to understand the truth in this statement, we may be able to break down some of the social barriers which stand in the way of a person asking for help. Fundamentally we believe if substance abuse is viewed as a disorder, not a weakness or something to be ashamed of, more doors will open and more will recover.
We understand at Michael’s HOPE the difference between the “scare tactics” as a form of education on the drug problem facing our children, and the ability to connect on a human level to try to reach them on more meaningful ground. We hope, through our own personal experience, to help others understand what it actually feels like to live in the nightmare of active addiction. Indecision, confusion, frustration, resentment and fear often stand in the way of an addict receiving the love and help they desperately need as the sick person they are. Educating people of all ages and helping them to understand what it means to have substance abuse disorder will give parents, grandparents, children, siblings, teachers, guidance counselors, police officers, friends or any person in any connection to an addict the appropriate tools they need to feel empowered and knowledgeable enough to make a decision on how to love their addict, and stand behind it.
In closing, it is our goal to engage entire communities, help them stand together to support healthy decision making on the addiction problem from all angles, while providing actual addicts the knowledge and appropriate tools needed to enter recovery if they find themselves in active addiction currently or later in their lives. Our approach is dependent on the needs of each individual community or school and our only aim is to be helpful. We’re sure here at Michael’s HOPE we are not the only ones tired of losing our family members and friends to this epidemic. The road we are traveling is not an easy one; however, we understand what we cannot do by ourselves we can do together.
Website:
www.michaelshope.net
Facebook:
Michael's HOPE
Instagram:
Michael's HOPE
@michaels_hope
Website
(Heroin and Opiate Prevention Education)
501(c)3 nonprofit organization
Our belief is very simple: that education is the foundation to recovery, not only for the abuser but for the families and communities as well. With that understanding, it seems very evident to us at Michael’s HOPE that education must begin with the youth. While we understand being reactive to the current epidemic that has touched far too many of our lives is important, we believe sincerely that it is our duty to be proactive to the fullest extent possible for the younger generation inheriting this problem. We believe addiction often begins with one uniformed decision made by a child who simply doesn’t understand what he or she is dealing with. The harsh reality remains that substances are becoming readily accessible to our children at younger ages each year. Thorough education needs to begin with the youth for the purpose of giving children the opportunity to make an informed decision for their lives when confronted with these substances.
Michaels HOPE presents stories from those who have been directly affected by addiction. We aim to raise awareness of the current epidemic we are living through, how addiction comes to pass for many, and very passionately for us the tremendous hopes of being a helping hand in ending the negative stigma connected to addiction as a whole. We have a saying here at Michael’s HOPE which represents everything we stand for: "The ugliest disease lies in the most beautiful people.” We hope by doing everything we can to get as many people as possible to understand the truth in this statement, we may be able to break down some of the social barriers which stand in the way of a person asking for help. Fundamentally we believe if substance abuse is viewed as a disorder, not a weakness or something to be ashamed of, more doors will open and more will recover.
We understand at Michael’s HOPE the difference between the “scare tactics” as a form of education on the drug problem facing our children, and the ability to connect on a human level to try to reach them on more meaningful ground. We hope, through our own personal experience, to help others understand what it actually feels like to live in the nightmare of active addiction. Indecision, confusion, frustration, resentment and fear often stand in the way of an addict receiving the love and help they desperately need as the sick person they are. Educating people of all ages and helping them to understand what it means to have substance abuse disorder will give parents, grandparents, children, siblings, teachers, guidance counselors, police officers, friends or any person in any connection to an addict the appropriate tools they need to feel empowered and knowledgeable enough to make a decision on how to love their addict, and stand behind it.
In closing, it is our goal to engage entire communities, help them stand together to support healthy decision making on the addiction problem from all angles, while providing actual addicts the knowledge and appropriate tools needed to enter recovery if they find themselves in active addiction currently or later in their lives. Our approach is dependent on the needs of each individual community or school and our only aim is to be helpful. We’re sure here at Michael’s HOPE we are not the only ones tired of losing our family members and friends to this epidemic. The road we are traveling is not an easy one; however, we understand what we cannot do by ourselves we can do together.
Website:
www.michaelshope.net
Facebook:
Michael's HOPE
Instagram:
Michael's HOPE
@michaels_hope
Organizer
Paul Michael Maffetone
Organizer
Laurel, NY
