Wisconsin Voices For Recovery

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 - 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲! We want to know what specific needs are most important to 𝗮𝗹𝗹 our communities. Every community is unique, so we'd love hear from 𝗬𝗢𝗨:
https://redcap.wisc.edu/surveys/?s=DFK778XEYTJPCTHR

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗻 (𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲)
https://youtu.be/ksFAA4QfDHs

**Content Note: This conversation includes candid discussion of childhood trauma, violence, addiction, chronic pain, and suicidality.

On this episode of Saturday Night Recovery Chat, Sean shares his personal journey from a difficult and unstable childhood through addiction, crisis, and long-term recovery. The conversation explores how early exposure to violence, family substance use, trauma, and the need to become independent at a young age shaped his life and coping strategies.

Sean also discusses the role that chronic pain and multiple back surgeries played in the progression of his alcohol use, including the period when drinking became increasingly central to managing both physical and emotional pain. He reflects on reaching a point of severe hopelessness and on the moment when he recognized that alcohol was no longer working for him, prompting him to ask for help and begin changing his life.

A major theme of the interview is what recovery can look like outside of a single prescribed path. Sean describes his reactions to Alcoholics Anonymous, the parts of traditional recovery culture that did not resonate with him, and the personal, spiritual, and practical factors that ultimately helped him remain sober. The discussion also considers identity, resilience, accountability, relationships, purpose, and the day-to-day work of building a life while in recovery.

Throughout the conversation, Sean looks back on his experiences with humor, candor, and perspective while offering insight into what helped him move from survival to sustained recovery. His story highlights the complexity of addiction, the many ways trauma and pain can influence substance use, and the importance of finding a recovery approach that is meaningful and sustainable for the individual.

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲:
https://www.youtube.com/
New videos are posted the last Saturday of the month at 8:30pm CT
If you are interested in being considered to share your recovery story on an upcoming Saturday Night Chat (featured on both YouTube and Facebook), please complete the sign up form: https://redcap.ictr.wisc.edu/surveys/?s=N4YKPLMMJDJ84YKX

www.youtube.com

Interested in becoming a recovery coach? Apricity will be hosting a 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 at the end of October!

The Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) Recovery Roach Academy is a 5-day, 25-hour virtual training with an additional 1 hour of homework daily. The training is focused on providing individuals with the skills needed to guide, mentor, and support anyone who would like to enter into or sustain long-term recovery. Questions? Contact Amber VanGrinsven, Recovery Roach Professional and Facilitator, at [email protected]!

The training runs from October 26th to October 30th, 2026, from 8:00am to 1:00pm. Registration is $450 per participant (includes course materials) and will close October 15th.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=MgRnI_sHEUONk3pICmrn-m5Ku4WzsRlCqtksFUUCza9UNEE0TERUMTEwQVNFQjlDMFJaNVhaMEpGVy4u

www.apricityservices.com

This November, 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁? The CCAR Recovery Coach Academy for Young People builds the skills needed to support young people navigating recovery and other pathways of positive change. 30 CEs will be awarded. Allow 2 hours daily to complete pre-work.

𝗪𝗵𝗼? This training is relevant to young people navigating their own lived experience and adults who work with or support youth. (Peer professionals, educators, counselors, youth-serving organizations, community advocates, behavioral health professionals, family members, and other supportive adults.)

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻? Wednesday, November 4th thru Sunday, November 8th from 4-8pm CST

Registration is $400 per participant, and a manual necessary for participation & CE award will need to be self-purchased for $35.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁:
https://addictionrecoverytraining.org/recovery-coach-academy-for-young-people-30-ceus/

Build skills. Build connection.

They'd love to support your journey anyway they can! Reach out to RCPF Sarah Bristow: [email protected]

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿!
https://go.wisc.edu/e603n6

In this newsletter, you will read about recovery events, highlighted recovery stories, educational opportunities and feature articles written by WIVR Staff and recovery community members!

Join us in Ashland this weekend for a 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵!

We'll be gathering on Saturday, September 19th from 11am to 3pm, rain or shine, in Central Railyard Park in Ashland (315 6th St W)!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲:
- Free food
- A Softball tournament
- Yard games
- Speakers
- Music
- Kid's activities & a bouncy house
- Community resources & information
- Free Narcan training & distribution

Everyone is invited. Fun for the whole family!

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁 - 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆!

Are you a person in recovery or an affected loved one? Do want to help people in recovery and eliminate stigma by sharing your story? 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁 (featured on both YouTube and Facebook)! If interested, please complete the sign up form: https://redcap.ictr.wisc.edu/surveys/?s=N4YKPLMMJDJ84YKX

To see other recovery stories, check out our Saturday Night Chat Playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe0KWQ1g8slsvuitireB7oGW1lQXFRTZH&si=vSdbfptVcQ-Loq0-

Interested in expanding your understanding of substance use disorder treatment? Please join the PROTEA Team for a 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 in De Pere, Wisconsin! This training aims to enhance confidence and competencies related to the management of substance use disorders in general medical settings.

Through case-based and interactive didactic content, the workshop will explore issues related to assessment, monitoring, prevention, and management in the setting of unhealthy substance use.

𝗪𝗵𝗼: Intended for clinicians in primary care settings who wish to expand knowledge related to the medical management of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: October 15th & 16th, 2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Bemis Conference Center, 299 Third Street, De Pere, WI 54115

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://ce.icep.wisc.edu/hide/substance-use-disorders-management-boot-camp-october-15-16-2026

For more information, please visit: fammed.wisc.edu/protea
Or contact Kathleen Maher, Outreach Coordinator: [email protected]