Why Do Some People Become Addicted to Drugs?

For well over a hundred years now, the prevailing wisdom has been that certain drugs are so chemically addictive that if you use them repeatedly, your addiction to them is guaranteed. There's a now-famous PSA from the 80s about a rat that chooses cocaine over food and water consistently until it dies. With the opioid epidemic raging across America, it's crucial to understand why some people become so addicted to drugs. However, new perspectives are changing how we think about drug addiction.

In his book "Chasing the Scream," Johann Hari explores the complex social and psychological factors that contribute to drug addiction. According to Hari, addiction is not solely a result of an individual's biology or personal choices, but is instead deeply connected to social and environmental factors.

One of the key ideas presented in "Chasing the Scream" is the notion that addiction is often a response to deep emotional pain and trauma. Many individuals who struggle with addiction have experienced significant trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or violence. Drugs can provide temporary relief from the pain and distress associated with these experiences, creating a cycle of addiction that is difficult to break.

Additionally, Hari argues that social and economic factors play a significant role in drug addiction. He notes that individuals who live in poverty or who experience social isolation and disconnection may be more vulnerable to addiction, as drugs can provide a sense of community, connection, and purpose. This is particularly true for marginalized communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, such as communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.

Hari also challenges the traditional understanding of addiction as a disease, arguing that addiction is not solely a result of chemical imbalances in the brain but is instead a response to social and environmental factors. He notes that many individuals who struggle with addiction have underlying issues, such as mental illness or trauma, that are often overlooked or untreated.

If the most predictive indicators of addiction are trauma and isolation, we can use that knowledge to make our society one that is more connected and that has more resources for addressing and overcoming trauma. Remember that rat from the 80s PSA? A Canadian Psychologist looked at it and noticed something interesting: the rat was alone in its cage with nothing except food, water, and cocaine. That psychologist recreated the experiment but this time, made a rat utopia. The rat had lots of yummy food, lots of fun toys, and lots of other rats with whom to interact. The end result? Few of the rats used the cocaine and none of them used it compulsively. As Johann Hari says, “addiction isn’t a disease. Addiction is an adaptation. It’s not you—it’s the cage you live in.”

If you’d like to learn more, check out this Ted Talk from Johann Hari himself: www.youtube.com

How Do Homeless Shelters Benefit the Community?

Homeless shelters provide a vital service to communities by offering a safe and supportive environment for those who are experiencing homelessness. Here are some positive impacts that homeless shelters can have on their communities:

1.) Meeting Basic Needs: Homeless shelters provide individuals with the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, and clothing. This helps to ensure that individuals are able to maintain their health and well-being, and reduces the risk of illness and injury.

2.) Providing Support: Homeless shelters often offer a range of services, such as counseling, job training, and medical care. This can help individuals to address the root causes of their homelessness and to develop the skills and resources needed to become self-sufficient.

3.) Reducing Crime: Homeless shelters can help to reduce crime in their communities by providing a safe and supportive environment for individuals who might otherwise engage in criminal activity in order to survive.

4.) Building Community: Homeless shelters can serve as a hub for community engagement and outreach. They offer opportunities for volunteers to get involved and contribute to the well-being of their community. Additionally, homeless shelters often collaborate with other community organizations to provide a range of services and resources to those in need. BCCH is fortunate enough to have many community partners with whom we collaborate.

5.) Improving Public Health: Homeless shelters can help to improve public health by reducing the spread of communicable diseases and providing medical care to those who might otherwise go without.

Homeless shelters have a positive impact on their communities by meeting basic needs, providing support, reducing crime, building community, and improving public health. They serve as an important resource for those experiencing homelessness and help to strengthen the fabric of communities by bringing people together to address a pressing social issue. If you live in Bennington County and are experiencing housing insecurity, please reach out to us at (802)442-2424.

The Benefits of Volunteering

Have you ever thought about volunteering? Volunteering for a non-profit organization can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Here are five great reasons you should consider volunteering for a non-profit:

1.) Personal Growth: Volunteering provides an opportunity for personal growth and development. It allows individuals to learn new skills, develop new interests and hobbies, and gain confidence. It also helps individuals to develop interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership.

2.) Social Connections: Volunteering provides an opportunity to meet new people and make new social connections. It allows individuals to form relationships with like-minded individuals who share the same values and interests. Volunteering can also help individuals to expand their social network and build new friendships.

3.) Sense of Purpose: Volunteering can provide a sense of purpose and meaning to an individual’s life. It allows individuals to give back to their community and contribute to a cause that they are passionate about. Volunteering can also provide a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that comes from helping others.

4.) Professional Development: Volunteering can provide valuable professional development opportunities. It allows individuals to gain new skills and experiences that can be useful in their careers. It can also provide an opportunity to network with professionals in their field of interest. Volunteering makes for a great addition to any resume and can sharing your experience in an interview may set you apart from other applicants.

5.) Improved Mental Health: Volunteering has been shown to have a positive impact on an individual’s mental health. It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Volunteering can also provide a sense of purpose and belonging that can improve an individual’s overall well-being.

Volunteering for a non-profit organization can be a rewarding and enriching experience for individuals. It provides an opportunity for personal growth, social connections, sense of purpose, professional development, and improved mental health. If you think that you’d be interested in volunteering for the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless, we’d love to talk to you! Between our various shelters, we can always use help cleaning, maintaining the property, and providing rides for guests to important appointments. If you’d like to learn more about volunteering, reach out to our director, Chloe Collins, at director@bcchvt.org

New Family Shelter is Open!

After years of planning, building, and collaborating, our new family shelter is now open! Located just a couple of blocks from the heart of downtown Bennington, our family shelter hosts nine apartments, including one with handicap access. The apartments are within a recently renovated historical building and we’re so thrilled with how they look.

Although our new family shelter just opened a few weeks ago, all nine apartments are already filled. Better yet, there is an overlap with our old family shelter and for the rest of the winter, we are able to offer expanded housing to Bennington County’s most vulnerable residents. We are so thrilled to offer this expanded housing, especially after December when we were turning away 3-5 people per day who were seeking beds.

While we are able to offer expanded housing through the end of winter, our current housing crisis causing this increased need shows no sign of stopping - and neither are we. BCCH is actively exploring multiple avenues to permanently expand our housing capacity, but we can’t do it alone. If you would like to help, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today.

Partner Spotlight - GBCS

This week, we wanted to give a shout out to our good friends at the Greater Bennington Community Services, or GBCS (pronounced Gee-Bicks). Our county is fortunate to have GBCS and the multitude of services they provide. Among their services, residents can reach out to GBCS to make an appointment at their free health and dental clinic. For folks who don’t have health insurance, or who are struggling to find a PCP in the area, this is an invaluable opportunity. GBCS also hosts the county’s largest food shelf which prioritizes respect and choice - people who need help putting food on the table can help choose the food they take home rather than receiving a pre-packed box. GBCS also manage the Emergency Needs Fund, a charitable fund that has existed in Bennington County for nearly fifty years. This fund can help residents experiencing unexpected hardships to get assistance to cover housing, utilities, and other living expenses.

The Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless has partnered with GBCS to provide easy-access medical care to our residents, right at our emergency shelter. We want to give a special thanks to nurse Eileen, who stops by our shelter once per week to check on our residents.

If you wanted to learn more about GBCS and the services, check out their website here: https://gbicsbennington.org/

Partner Spotlight - Turning Point Recovery Center

Turning Point LOGO

Today we wanted to take a moment to talk about one of our many community partners - Turning Point Recovery Center of Bennington. With opiate addiction a well-know epidemic in our community, Turning Point is an excellent resource for folks who are struggling with addiction. Among their many services, Turning Point offers recovery coaches who can help provide guidance and support - not just to those who are struggling with addiction but to their loved ones as well. Additionally, if you are a drug user, you can also receive free aid from Turning Point such as free Narcan and Fentanyl Test Strips to increase your safety through their Hard Reduction Program.

Here at the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless, we’ve partnered with Turning Point to host a monthly potluck so that our residents can learn more about the resources Turning Point has to offer in a casual environment. This month, we enjoyed pizza!

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or fear for your safety because of potentially dangerous black market drugs, you can reach Turning Point by calling (802) 442-9700 or visiting them at 160 Benmont Ave, 4th Flr, Suite C481, Bennington, VT 05201. Thank you for all you do, Turning Point!

What Items Do Homeless Shelters Need the Most?

Thanks to the generosity and marketing prowess of the company Bombas, you’ve probably heard that socks are the #1 most requested by homeless shelters. While we sometimes need socks, we often need other items even more. Bombas is a super cool company and we really appreciate all they do, but I think their message has contributed to a culture in this country of seductive simplicity: complex problems can be solved with simple solutions. Unfortunately, that’s just not usually true.

Not only does what one shelter needs differ from another just one county over - what each shelter needs changes from one week to the next. Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless, for instance, has no need for toilet paper, coffee, and paper towels thanks to the regular donations from the amazing generosity of the folks at Maple Leaf Realty. Our needs change depending on what donations we happen to receive. Right now, our biggest needs are:

• Stewart’s Shop Gift Cards

• Laundry Detergent

• Dish Detergent

• Sponges

• Bottled Water

• Swiffer Mop Pads

• Men’s Shaving Razors

These are our needs in December 2022 but by January 2023, we might need something totally different! So what items do homeless shelters need the most? The only way to find out is to give your local shelter a call, a Facebook message, or an email! We’d be happy to let you know what the latest need is here at BCCH! Thank you so much for caring and for being you!

Thank You, Givers!

Everyone has that one, favorite dish that, without, Thanksgiving would be incomplete. Greenbean casserole. Fresh baked rolls, dripping with butter. Steaming turkey gravy (not made from a packet, thank you). Sweet potatoes with marshmallow. And of course, the pies. Pumpkin, apple, pecan and, for those who live life just outside the box, key lime.

This year, we received so many food donations from this generous community. We received a number of turkeys, more side dishes than you could shake a cornucopia at, and more pies than we could eat for three Thanksgivings. BCCH is so fortunate to have the support of such a supportive and generous community. Because of you and your kindness, our guests had a truly special Thanksgiving. Among the many people who donated, we wanted to give a shoutout to the folks over at the Southwest Tech’s culinary program for all of the food they brought as well as the individually packed meals from Everyone Eats. Whatever other hardships our residents are dealing with, they were able to escape for a moment in a delicious meal provided by a caring community. Thank you so much for all of your contributions!