PRO-A

12/26/2025

Join us on The CALL on Tuesday, December 30th! PRO-A will have Guest Joe McLaughlin from Firetree, Ltd to talk about their programs and what he is seeing out in the field.

To Register for The CALL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwkc-yqpzkuE9zK4qvzHhf1N8EVXyZ_wGIs?fbclid=IwAR2wdT_5LAH5UqYn7RMwtXrZBCM5N54slnSl3UVCgAYN5w-Q7PYAbrdvCvs #/registration

What is it: PRO-A the statewide recovery community organization holds statewide weekly ZOOM call to support Recovery Community Organizations and members of the recovery community and strengthen recovery focused efforts across Pennsylvania.

All in PA are welcome to participate on THE CALL. Our Goals:

To understand what is happening to you, your organizations and your local community right now.

To support our fragile care recovery care system and support for our communities across Pennsylvania.

To help support each other and seek solutions for caring for ourselves and our community members as we strengthen recovery capital at the individual, family and community levels.

12/24/2025

PRO-A Training Institute is moving forward together toward healing, resilience, and lasting change. Educating individuals who are dedicated to serving the SUD population is a continual goal of PRO-A, and we continue to add to our training list to meet the needs of those working in our systems of care. Training fees are based on continuing education hours.
PRO-A would like to share one of the trainings that we have available. The training can be individualized to meet the needs of your organization.
To see our whole list of trainings click: https://pro-a.org/training/
To schedule a training email Patricia Baranowski at patti.b@pro-a.org for more information.

12/24/2025

Navigating the holidays in recovery - By Peter Grinspoon, MD, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

If you are in recovery from a substance use disorder, be it drugs or alcohol, and the holidays do cause you emotional distress, it is critical to have plans and strategies in place for dealing with the realities of the holiday season, to minimize any risks to your sobriety. As it is commonly said in recovery parlance, “The first thing you put ahead of your sobriety will be the second thing you lose.” Even if you have to be, for lack of a better word, ruthless, and step on a few toes, it is essential that you guard your recovery as the most precious gift you have, because it is.
It is critical to have a plan in place, in advance of the holidays, to minimize stress and dangerous exposures. While one certainly can’t foresee or predict all contingencies, many can be anticipated and planned for. What are your triggers and flash points? What are the scenarios that have proven dangerous in the past? What kinds of interactions knock you off center? Who can you call if/when you start feeling like you are losing your grip? How are you planning to re-center
yourself? Can you envision yourself just walking away from stressful situations?
The first obstacle that often comes up is the holiday office party. I’ve worked with many people in recovery who tell me that coworkers can look at them as if they have a third eye, or as if they have just sprouted wings, if they decline an alcoholic beverage. Many have trouble just being around alcohol, not to mention the unchecked inebriation that can occur at these parties. Some skip these events altogether, if the office politics allow this; others show up briefly, and those who are more comfortable with their sobriety simply say, “I don’t drink.” That usually ends the conversation, unless the person they are conversing with is clueless enough to ask why.
Link –

While the holiday season is a time of festivities and reconnecting with family, for people in recovery from substance use disorders, these specific situations and events can be especially stressful...

12/22/2025

Join us on The CALL on Tuesday, December 23rd! PRO-A's Nikki Weir will have some Holiday Icebreaker Questions for everyone.

To Register for The CALL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwkc-yqpzkuE9zK4qvzHhf1N8EVXyZ_wGIs?fbclid=IwAR2wdT_5LAH5UqYn7RMwtXrZBCM5N54slnSl3UVCgAYN5w-Q7PYAbrdvCvs #/registration

What is it: PRO-A the statewide recovery community organization holds statewide weekly ZOOM call to support Recovery Community Organizations and members of the recovery community and strengthen recovery focused efforts across Pennsylvania.

All in PA are welcome to participate on THE CALL. Our Goals:

To understand what is happening to you, your organizations and your local community right now.

To support our fragile care recovery care system and support for our communities across Pennsylvania.

To help support each other and seek solutions for caring for ourselves and our community members as we strengthen recovery capital at the individual, family and community levels.

12/18/2025

The True Cost of Untreated Substance Use Disorder in the Workplace - Carolyn Delaney

Employees in recovery often become some of the most reliable people in the workforce. They miss fewer days—about 10.9 per year, which is lower than average—and they stay in roles longer. Healthcare and safety-related costs drop as well. This creates a different kind of workforce impact: stability, consistency, and stronger team performance.

Three Small Ways to Learn More About Recovery
- Listen to one personal recovery story this week through a podcast or interview.
- Read a short explainer on what substance use disorder actually is and how recovery works.
- Look at how another company has publicly shared its recovery-focused efforts and outcomes.

All of these costs and ripple effects point back to a single truth. Substance use disorder isn’t just a personal struggle; it’s a workplace reality that shapes productivity, stability, and team well-being. Seeing the real story behind the data is the first step toward understanding why this matters.

Full Article Link -

Why This Matters Most companies know substance use disorder affects performance. Few understand the full cost.

12/17/2025

PRO-A Training Institute, with continued hope and a steadfast commitment to the recovery community of our Commonwealth, is moving forward together toward healing, resilience, and lasting change. Educating individuals who are dedicated to serving the SUD population is a continual goal of PRO-A, and we continue to add to our training list to meet the needs of those working in our systems of care. Training fees are based on continuing education hours.
The topics can be individualized to meet the needs of your organization.
One of the trainings we offer is:
A Common Vision of Recovery Description: This training provides an overview on addiction, mental health, and co-occurring disorders. Participants will compare the common aspects and differences relative to the recovery processes for substance and alcohol use and mental health. The training will equip attendees with a better understanding of how to reach a common vision of recovery. Concluding this training, individuals will be able to:
• Alleviate any misunderstandings relevant to Substance Use Disorders, Mental Illness, and Co-occurring Disorders.
• Identify differences and similarities of Substance Use Disorders and Mental Disorders and their recovery processes.
• Develop a common perspective for recovery from both disorders.
• Describe an individualized recovery plan and identify its components.

To see our list of trainings click: https://pro-a.org/training/
For more information or questions on trainings, please email Patti at: patti.b@pro-a.org

Training Programs Our Training Institute Program offers training sessions that can be offered as a series or as individual sessions. Training & Education PRO-A Training Institute PRO-A WORKS Project Connections Matter Upcoming Events See What’s Happening PRO.A Advocates Creating a Network Mobilize...

12/16/2025

Fostering Recovery Community: Mutual Support with Broad Societal Benefit – William Stauffer

If we truly wanted people to initiate and sustain recovery, the primary strategy of clinical interventions would be to help people create mutual support structures that they may actively participate in for their benefit. Cultivating connection
and shared purpose in service to others and connection to recovery community. Helping others can itself be a vital element in the stabilization of recovery (Pagano et al 2004, Borkman et al 1998, Best & Hennessey, 2025, White, 2009).
It is a powerful restorative force for us to cultivate.
While in service peer support is thriving informally and often out of sight in our communities, our systems of care are increasingly viewing in service within the context of peer support as a distinct, formalized, regulated and funded services rendered primarily one to one by a certified person providing narrowly defined interventions for compensation. Gatekept for funding and regulatory purposes. This is a fundamental departure from its origin. Peer support as interpersonal sharing of information and life experiences, offering practical help, and interacting in ways that enhance emotional and social well-being ( Polcin, et al, 2014 ). Much of what is occurring is a departure from the origins of the model which was collaborative and rooted in authentic recovery community. Failing to acknowledge and uphold the broader concept of “in service” peer support provided within a Social Model of addiction recovery to benefit the interests of industry would be a step backwards for our social movement to expand recovery across America.

Post link –

“People are social creatures who need human interaction to drive and sustain their physical, intellectual and emotional development. The determination of who they interact with from the time of bir…

12/15/2025

Join us on The CALL on Tuesday, December 16th! PRO-A's Bill Stauffer will be discussing current issues and dialog with the Recovery Community and allies.

To Register for The CALL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwkc-yqpzkuE9zK4qvzHhf1N8EVXyZ_wGIs?fbclid=IwAR2wdT_5LAH5UqYn7RMwtXrZBCM5N54slnSl3UVCgAYN5w-Q7PYAbrdvCvs #/registration

What is it: PRO-A the statewide recovery community organization holds statewide weekly ZOOM call to support Recovery Community Organizations and members of the recovery community and strengthen recovery focused efforts across Pennsylvania.

All in PA are welcome to participate on THE CALL. Our Goals:

To understand what is happening to you, your organizations and your local community right now.

To support our fragile care recovery care system and support for our communities across Pennsylvania.

To help support each other and seek solutions for caring for ourselves and our community members as we strengthen recovery capital at the individual, family and community levels.

12/11/2025

Thrill Fatigue: How Dopamine Devalues Repeated Rewards

“Drug addiction causes desensitization throughout the brain and, as a result, devalues all innately rewarding behaviors. Our findings suggest that localized dopamine release desensitizes local circuitry, causing the brain to devalue a specific behavior.” Clinicians and researchers have long known that the desensitization of the D2R is the reason why it takes more and more drug to achieve the same effect within the context of addiction. However, up to now there was no evidence that this mechanism influences natural motivational behaviors. “The demonstration of D2R desensitization in response to naturally released dopamine links this pathological mechanism to the natural ebb and flow of our individual drives. Better understanding of this mechanism could lead to new hypotheses for motivational control and how it becomes corrupted in addiction,” added Crickmore.

Key Questions Answered:
Q: What mechanism reduces motivation for repeated rewarding behaviors?
A: Desensitization of the D2 dopamine receptor reduces the impact of dopamine over time.

Q: What natural behaviors did researchers use to reveal this mechanism?
A: They studied repeated mating behavior in male fruit flies and how dopamine signaling changed across trials.

Q: How does this relate to addiction and everyday motivation loss?
A: The same D2R desensitization underlying drug tolerance also naturally drives loss of interest in repeated activities.

Full Article Link - https://neurosciencenews.com/dopamine-motivation-29964/?fbclid=IwdGRzaAONeTtjbGNrA415OGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHgTttrFvtGqmW35O1XO6r9T8blaiIOgMV4F5RDyfCbCMkkldl9RPg2MwujF0_aem_D3SS0YvMIBqZlwcy3mGQGg&sfnsn=mo

New research shows that the same dopamine receptor mechanism responsible for drug addiction also governs the natural decline in motivation when we repeat rewarding behaviors.

12/10/2025

PRO-A Training Institute

PRO-A is dedicated to supporting the recovery community in the Commonwealth by providing education and training tailored to those serving individuals with Substance Use Disorders (SUD).

• We offer a variety of continuing education trainings and are a certified to train for the PCB Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist credential.
• We train Peers on the Peer Recovery Support Specialist Certification through PAAP. PRO-A provides training for the Pennsylvania Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PC-PRSS) credential, an alternative to the PCB-CRS credential, recognized in 45 states through NAADAC and PAAP.
• Customized SUD training available: PRO-A offers a range of training topics that can be individualized to meet organizational needs, with fees based on continuing education hours.
• Extensive CEU training topics: Available trainings cover diverse subjects including Codependency, Burnout, Recovery Concepts, Peer Integration, Supervision, Ethics, Stigma,
• Resiliency, and Organizational Wellness among many others.

Contact PRO-A for trainings that aren’t listed at

Training Programs Our Training Institute Program offers training sessions that can be offered as a series or as individual sessions. Training & Education PRO-A Training Institute PRO-A Works Project Upcoming Events See What’s Happening PRO.A Advocates Creating a Network Mobilize & Action in The Re...