HEALTH SENSE
Let’s nurture the seeds of recovery and wellness By Dr. Anne Zink
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
A
t the beginning of each new year, many of us make resolutions to live healthier, happier lives. Addressing substance misuse or mental illness may be one of yours, or something you wish with all your heart for a friend or loved one. Deciding you want change is a critical first step, but we should all keep in mind this is not a path most people walk alone. All of us have a role to play in supporting recovery. Substance misuse and mental illness are far too common in Alaska, and every Alaskan who has been affected or touched by these diseases of despair has his or her own journey to recovery. For some, it may be recovery from alcohol or opioid addiction; for others, it may be depression or mental illness. Some stumble after the loss of a job, a home or a loved one. For each of us, recovery is a deeply personal journey, but it almost always involves con-
nection to others or a higher power. As writer Johann Hari said, “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. It’s connection.” Many of us have experience with addiction, either personally or professionally. As an emergency physician, I am humbled whenever I witness the despair and destruction of addiction, the power of recovery, and the resiliency of family and caregivers as they struggle alongside those battling addiction. Among my most memorable work experiences are when I have sat beside patients in their darkest hours and then later learned they found a way to recovery. Addiction is a disease, as real as a heart attack or a broken bone. Addic-
tion is not a moral failing. Part of addiction treatment is compassion, respect, and the deep belief that recovery is possible, even if it does not come easily or quickly. We each play a role in recovery. That means not pushing a friend to have a beer when they say no, recognizing that a coworker’s struggles may be a reflection of a deeper battle with addiction, or learning how to love with healthy boundaries a family member who cycles through addiction. It also means striving to always show kindness and empathy toward others, and for a clearer understanding of the role trauma plays and how that may have affected someone’s life and decisions they’ve made along the way. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ broad mandate is to promote and protect the health and well-being of all Alaskans. This includes supporting meaningful addiction and resiliency work by health care providers and within communities. States play a unique role by serving as a conduit for funding sources like
= Salmon for health Alaska has lots of salmon. Lots. Salmon contain lots of Omega-3 fatty acids. Lots. Omega-3s are great for your body, says the National Institutes of Health, noting that Omega-3s play important roles in the body as components of the phospholipids that form the structures of cell membranes. “In addition to their structural role in cell membranes, omega-3s (along with omega-6s) provide energy for the body and are used to form eicosanoids. Eicosanoids are signaling molecules that have similar chemical structures to the fatty acids from which they are derived; they have wide-ranging functions in the body’s cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune, and endocrine systems.” 20
ALASKA PULSE — February 2020
