This October, Red Ribbon Week reminds us that making a difference can start with something as simple as learning, listening, and starting a conversation.
When we hear the word “hero,” we might picture someone stepping in during a crisis or doing something extraordinary. But when it comes to prevention and recovery, being a hero can look much more everyday. It can be a parent having an honest conversation with their child, a friend listening without judgment, a family member learning more about addiction, someone sharing a helpful resource, or an individual taking the first step toward sobriety or recovery. These actions may seem small, but they can make a meaningful difference.
That idea is especially fitting as communities recognize Red Ribbon Week from October 23–31 under the theme “Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free.” While Red Ribbon Week has long encouraged young people to make healthy, drug-free choices, it also reminds parents, caregivers, educators, and other trusted adults of the important role they play. Being a hero doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means creating space for questions, talking openly about risks like fentanyl and counterfeit pills, listening when someone is struggling, and taking the time to educate ourselves. The more we understand about substance use, addiction, sobriety, and recovery, the better prepared we are to support the people around us. So, in the spirit of this year’s Red Ribbon Week theme, we asked local professionals working in prevention, treatment, and recovery to help us learn more.
10 Resources to Help You Learn, Understand & Connect
To make finding trusted resources a little easier, we asked people working in prevention, treatment, recovery, and community education right here in Monroe County to share their recommendations. The result is a list of 10 books, podcasts, apps, and other resources, including favorites from Abby Weiss, host of the Dose of Reality podcast, and Jamie Drake from CMP Drug and Alcohol Commission. Whether you’re exploring sobriety, supporting a loved one, or simply want to better understand substance use and recovery, these local recommendations are a great place to start. In the spirit of Red Ribbon Week, taking the time to learn is one simple way we can all make a difference.
Books
- Beautiful Boy
David Sheff’s memoir shares a father’s experience navigating his son’s addiction and offers a deeply personal perspective on how substance use can affect an entire family. - Beyond Addiction
Created with families and loved ones in mind, Beyond Addiction explores compassionate, practical ways to support someone struggling with substance use while also caring for yourself. - Walking in Dry Places
A collection of daily reflections focused on maintaining sobriety, personal growth, and navigating the everyday challenges that can come with recovery. - Just for Today
Daily meditations provide short reflections centered on recovery, perspective, connection, and continued personal growth. - Recovery Bible
A faith-based resource connecting biblical teachings with themes of recovery, healing, reflection, and personal change.
Podcasts
- Back from Broken
Real stories explore addiction, mental health, trauma, and recovery while showing how different the path toward healing can look from one person to another. - Against All Odds
Personal stories and conversations explore addiction, resilience, recovery, and the process of rebuilding.
Apps
- NA Meeting Search App
A resource for finding Narcotics Anonymous meetings and connecting with recovery support. - In The Rooms
An online recovery community offering access to virtual meetings and connections across a variety of recovery pathways. - Meeting Guide
A meeting-finder app that helps users locate Alcoholics Anonymous meetings based on location and meeting information.
You Don’t Have to Do Something Extraordinary
Perhaps that’s the most important takeaway from this year’s Red Ribbon Week: making a difference doesn’t require a grand gesture. Learn something new, talk to your kids, check in on someone you care about, or share a resource that could help someone take their next step. We all have a role in prevention, understanding, and recovery in Monroe County. This Red Ribbon Week and throughout the year, be willing to learn, listen, and start the conversation. Sometimes, that’s what being a hero looks like.
Looking for more ways to learn or get involved?
Explore We Fight Fentanyl for prevention education, local resources, community stories, and conversations about the many paths to recovery in Monroe County.