Not only is volunteering a great way to give back to your community, but it can also be a way to promote substance use recovery. A recent study showed that altruistic behaviors, such as volunteering, help us to get connected with other people and can promote substance use recovery. Volunteering can provide many benefits, such as instilling a personal sense of purpose, providing an opportunity to give back in the community, gaining social and professional connections, as well as supporting people in similar situations. Many recovery programs incorporate volunteerism into treatment, because it’s recognized as such a valuable tool for building community and strengthening recovery supports. Interested in getting involved and giving back? Check out the resources!
Explore: Check out this article to learn more about how volunteering can benefit you in recovery
Watch: Hear Andy Pegg, a volunteer for REACH Drug & Alcohol Service in Dorset, UK tell his story of overcoming alcohol addiction finding meaning through volunteering and helping others in recovery.
Practice: Ready to get involved? Check out the Volunteer Iowa website for more information on how to get started. Additionally, try some of these journaling prompts to help reflect!
Describe how you supported your community through volunteering.
Talk about what group or organization you volunteered with.
- Why did you choose to spend your time supporting this cause?
- What personal connections led you to make this decision?
- How did you feel when you volunteered? What feelings came up for you?
- Did you learn anything new when you volunteered?
- What surprised you?
- What felt comfortable for you? What felt uncomfortable?
- What experiences impact how you view volunteering?