SAVING LIVES : ormer Addict is Giving Hope to Those in Recovery by Seraine Page
The alliance also has an outreach committee to distribute NARCAN at various events ; the team passed out 4,000 NARCAN kits at the recent Rockville Concert series .
As a recovering addict , Chrapek understands how easy it is to slip into regular drug use and isn ’ t shy about telling her story if she believes it will help someone .
At 11 , she stole her aunt ’ s cigarettes . Then , she progressed to drinking as a teen . As a young adult , knee pain took over , and an orthopedic doctor gave her opioids for pain management .
Add in an obsession with being thin , and Chrapek fell into a spiral of self-destructive behavior that included the use of alcohol , cocaine and opioids atop an eating disorder . She nearly overdosed but called to say goodbye to her brother-in-law , who was a paramedic , and he arrived in time to save her life .
“ It started slow and got progressively worse ,” she admits . After meeting her second husband , a Vietnam vet with undiagnosed PTSD who was also a drug user , Chrapek made it her mission to “ save him ” by showing him into recovery .
In that process , she recovered , too . Since 1982 , she ’ s been sober .
“ Karen is an amazing human being ,” says Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood , who has helped her organization secure funding each year . “ Her personal experiences , her trials and tribulations — into addiction and out — are amazing . Her passion and compassion for those suffering from the disease of addiction knows no bounds . She has made herself and the alliance a force to be reckoned with .”
In addition to offering NARCAN to the community through various partnerships , recovery resources allow the nonprofit to help addicts restore their lives . The alliance provides online recovery support groups , recovery residences , inpatient treatment , printable resources and more .
Breaking the stigma of addiction discussions is a huge part of what Chrapek hopes the Volusia Recovery Alliance brings to the community .
“ Sooner or later , every human being needs help with something ,” she says .
Volusia County Chrapek says she wants all — including
Sheriff Michael first responders — to know the doors are Chitwood
wide open for recovery support .
As for plans , Volusia Recovery Alliance has partnered with the Port Orange South Daytona Chamber of Commerce to start a “ Recovery Friendly Workplace ” initiative . The goal is to help support employees in recovery by offering valuable resources and educational tools to keep clean .
“ The Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative raises awareness and illuminates the vital role employers and business owners play in the journey of individuals recovering from Substance Use Disorder ( SUD ),” says Barbara Ann Heegan , president and CEO of Port Orange South Daytona Chamber of Commerce . “ I commend the dedication of Karen Chrapek for her unwavering support for people seeking and in active recovery and to minimize the stigmatization of access to resources . This RFW Initiative has forged and leveraged wonderful community partnerships . Together , we exemplify the power of collaborative efforts in fostering a supportive environment for those on the road to healing .”
For more information about Volusia Recovery Alliance , visit www . volusiarecoveryalliance . org or call 386-777-7337 .
Seraine Page is a four-time award-winning journalist who writes for the health , wellness and business industries . As a serial entrepreneur herself , she ’ s passionate about putting a spotlight on successful businesses through her writing . She lives with her husband , son and hefty chiweenie in Saint Johns , Florida .
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