An NHL Legend, A Doctor & a Dog Help Addicts Find Hope

Aug. 19, 2022 — Among hockey followers, Kevin Stevens is a legend. A member of a number of groups, together with the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers, the now 57-year-old was particularly recognized for being a Pittsburgh Penguin in the course of the workforce’s Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992.

But the Bostonian can be a recovering addict whose life modified dramatically when he was 28 years outdated and made “one bad decision” one night time.

“I had never done drugs in my life, but someone stuck cocaine in front of me,” he says. “I didn’t know what it was, but I tried it and that changed my life for the next 24 years.”

Stevens cast an extended and sometimes well-publicized battle for sobriety with many challenges alongside the best way, together with an opioid habit due to an enormous hockey damage (in addition to persevering with to make use of cocaine) and an arrest for dealing oxycodone in 2016.

When he entered a responsible plea in 2017, he vowed to show his life round. Ever since, he has devoted his life to assist others by Power Forward, a nonprofit he began in 2018 that’s centered on elevating consciousness about habit.

Bring on the Dogs

Today, Stevens, who presently works as a National Hockey League (NHL) scout, and one in all his board members, Michael Hamrock, MD, a major care and habit drugs physician at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston, have launched a singular therapeutic methodology to the listing of choices for folks in restoration.

Called the DOER (Dog Ownership Enhancing Recovery) program, a skilled assist canine — on this case, a golden retriever named Sawyer — can be despatched to reside with 12 males dwelling in a sober dwelling within the Boston space, in a program that’s the primary of its form within the U.S.

“For the entirety of my practice, my patients have told me over and over again how much their pet dogs have improved their physical and mental health, so I thought we should add this to one of our offerings,” Hamrock says. “I know this will help.”

The day Sawyer was launched to the residents as a part of a pilot program was a joyful one, Hamrock says.

“We brought Sawyer to the backyard and, while on a leash, he went to each resident individually,” he says. “They started patting him and playing with him. I could see the tremendous delight in their eyes.”

The purpose: To add extra canine to this system, over time.

“I believe meetings, medications, spiritual care and having a sponsor help with recovery,” he says. “But dogs can provide safety, prevent loneliness, help you reestablish relationships, help you find purpose and value and offer unconditional love.”

And with overdose deaths within the U.S. reaching report ranges final yr, Hamrock says the time is now to persevering with innovating.

“We know the risk factors for heart disease, but we need a better understanding of the brain disease of addiction,” he says, noting that the acronym GAMES presents a great way to quantify the 5 threat elements: G (genes), A (age of first drug use), M (handled or untreated psychological well being points), E (publicity to opioids as a therapy for, say, persistent ache) and S (stress, particularly from adversarial childhood occasions) is an effective technique to quantify threat elements.

But a well-trained canine can mitigate a few of these elements.

“We know dogs can reduce stress and enhance mental health,” he says. “We also know that pet dogs can help with accountability, create a caring environment, and fill the void of nurturing. We can really see a difference.”

Ask Stevens and he’ll inform you he’s enthusiastic about how service canine would possibly play a job in serving to addicts keep in restoration.

“I think what Michael is doing is pretty neat,” he says. “When he brought this idea to the table, it made sense. Dogs are so great for people and they’re that bright spot in your day. Offering these residents the chance to take care of something will make all the difference.”