Family Addiction Network
A Compassionate Community for Families with Addiction
Opinions of presenters do not necessarily reflect those of the Family Addiction Network.
PLEASE NOTE: For information on past meetings, please go to the Past Meetings page.
Current Meetings 2024
April 16th 7:00 - 8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
116 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
HARM REDUCTION - AN UPDATED APPROACH
For April, we welcome back
Shannon Hurley
Lead Counselor at Middletown Medical
We have all undoubtedly heard a lot about harm reduction over the past several years, but as the industry changes and we continue to learn from those who have experienced addiction and recovery, the parameters are evolving! We used to heavily rely on a 12 step model for recovery, 28 days was the standard of length in rehab, and mostly leaned on a shame based approach to inspire sobriety. We are learning that the old confrontational style of treatment is not working. There is no “One Way” to reach recovery. For instance, Medically Assisted Treatment used to have negative connotations, where now it may be the most effective form of treatment. The best and only way to serve the person is to meet them where they are. To that end, Shannon will share her perspectives on the changes in harm reduction approaches, based on her years in active addiction and her vast experiences through her career and her own recovery!
Shannon received her bachelor’s degree from Kean University and has been working in addiction and mental health treatment for over 25 years. She joined the team at Middletown Medical in July 2022 as a Counseling Intern while finishing her CADC. Shannon was born and raised here in NJ where she has spent the better part of her career as an advocate and a voice of empowerment for those affected by substance use.
Shannon’s career path began in mental health when she worked as the Substance Abuse Specialist for one of the first PACT teams in the state and was Liaison to Ancora State Psychiatric Hospital. She moved over to addiction when Turning Point, Inc. started a Co-Occurring team and she was brought on for her experience working in mental health.
Shannon also worked at Mrs. Wilson’s Halfway House for Women where she had the opportunity to work with women and was eventually promoted to Intake and Marketing
Coordinator for the agency.
Shannon’s approach is strength based and client centered. She works best in a team setting and believes in a humanistic approach stressing unconditional positive regard and describes herself as “a little bit Carl Rogers and a little bit Mr. Rogers”
March 19th 7:00 - 8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
116 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
Current Trends in Treatment and Recovery
The treatment industry changes so quickly and if you are new to this, it can be very daunting. This month we are pleased to welcome Carley Dietrich from Seacrest Recovery Center. She is a healthcare professional who has found her home helping anyone, anywhere struggling with substance use disorder. This is her true passion due to her own personal experience, as well as having lived experience with loved ones. She will share her knowledge of how to navigate the system when you or a loved one is in need.
She is a graduate of Middletown Highschool South, attended Brookdale Community College while waitressing and catering. After two years at BCC Carley continued her education at Rutgers University where her uncle and brother both went. In 2008 Carley graduated from the School of Communication, Carley began her career in healthcare at Horizon BCBSNJ where she remained for five years. While at Horizon Carley attended St. Peter’s University to obtain her Master’s Degree in Business.
Following, she joined Hackensack Meridian Health where she remained another five years, most recent role at HMH she was the Business Manager of Surgical Services before starting her role at Seacrest Recovery Center in Eatontown as a Business Development Representative, now the Director of Outreach & Community Engagement.
Carley’s passion is to help others and to improve the world around her one step at a time by helping our community, & beyond, get well. She was born and raised in Lincroft, NJ. and currently lives with her two English Labs in Oceanport. She spends her free time fishing, dancing, singing, gardening, being with family & friends, drinking coffee, going to the gym, swimming, kayaking, spending time with their pups... & working, because if you "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
February 20th 7:00 - 8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
116 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
The Shame and Blame Game
Nikki Tierney, LPC, LCADC
Nikki Tierney has been a friend and supporter of Family Addiction Network since the very beginning and we are thrilled that she will be our presenter this month! Her story is inspiring and uplifting, to say the least! She has been in sustained remission from substance use disorder for over a decade and is a loving Mom to 4 children. She credits her family as being a constant in her life and the most impactful reason she is on her path to wellness. She recognizes the tremendous transformation and trauma her family and her children experienced as a result of her opioid use disorder.
Nikki will discuss the blame and stigma family members experience including self-stigma, public stigma, and structural stigma. In addition she will share about the ways family dynamic is affected by one members substance use and finally how the family unit can begin to heal once a family member enters recovery. This discussion will be from the perspective of her family’s lived experience as well as from a clinical perspective.
Nikki excelled in sports and academics through high school and college and in 1997 received her Juris Doctor with Honors from Rutgers University School of Law. She practiced law for nearly 10 years until her Opioid Use Disorder became so severe that she surrendered her license to practice. In 2007, after trying for years to remain abstinent from opioid and other drugs, Nikki felt helpless and hopeless and attempted to end her life. Unknowingly, that began the start of her journey to health and wellness. Since that dark day in 2007, Nikki has finally received evidence-based treatment for her previously undiagnosed mental health disorders (major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder) and has focused on living her best life and moving forward from her past negative experiences. Towards that end, she returned to Monmouth University graduate school where she obtained her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Addiction Studies. She graduated w a 4.0 GPA and received the 2021 Advocacy Award from the Department of Professional Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Nikki and her children founded a small nonprofit charity in honor of her parents, Hope is NEVER Lost and has a private practice Hope-Fullness Counseling, Prevention, and Education. She is also a policy analyst for the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery. Nikki has made it her mission to decrease stigma and barriers to treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.