Voices of the New River Valley: Human Stories of Trauma, Substance Use, Resilience, and Recovery

To contribute to ongoing anti-stigma work and to elevate the voices of people with lived experience, our partners across the New River Valley began a collaborative project to share personal stories of people with histories of substance use.

Beginning in May of this year, peer recovery specialists from Rise Above and Instill Mindfulness conducted interviews with 16 people in the New River Valley who are in various stages of active use and recovery, with some storytellers being peers themselves. 

Stigma has negative effects on people with SUD, and can lead to negative self-image and a reduced likelihood of accessing supportive services. A growing body research suggests that narrative storytelling is beneficial for reducing stigma associated with SUD, both for communities and for stigmatized individuals.

With understanding of stigma and history of substance use prevalence in Appalachia, interviewers asked questions about exposures to trauma or substances in childhood, first experiences with substance use, recovery journeys, and advice storytellers would give to their younger selves. Storytellers shared a diversity of experiences and highlighted the complexity of the pathways between trauma, social drivers of health, stigma, substance use, and more. 

As part of this project, we have created narrative short stories from each interview and compiled them into a master document containing all 16 stories. Through storytelling, participants shared a glimpse into the human stories behind substance use and recovery and highlighted the links between life experiences, including trauma, and substance use. Several participants described adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and exposures to violence during childhood that contributed to substance use later in life, and many participants described the impacts that substance use has had on their lives overall. These stories are consistent with findings from existing research exploring trauma as a precursor for substance use.

Storytellers also provided key insights into the negative impacts of stigma, the importance of local harm reduction and peer-led recovery resources, and the current gaps in resources that could improve outcomes for them. Participants emphasized the need for more robust housing, SUD treatment, and employment opportunities in the New River Valley.

Including the perspectives of people with lived experience is a critical part of improving health outcomes and services for those affected by substance use in the New River Valley, as well as a vital component in reducing stigma associated with substance use.

This project was created with support and guidance from Instill Mindfulness, the New River Health District, the New River Valley Regional Commission, and the Virginia Tech Center for Public Health Practice and Research. 

For more information on this project, contact Holly Lesko at hlesko@nrvrc.org.