How I Use Crochet to Support Recovery

During my sophomore year of high school, I started immersing myself in the fascinating neuroscience of addiction. I wanted to grasp how the brain could fall so deeply into a self-reinforcing cycle, how drugs infiltrate the system, and the long term implications it has. This deeper search into the mechanism behind addiction also gave rise to an inherent compassion—a desire to help those trapped in the very cages I was scrutinizing meticulously, the people themselves. Rather than condemn their every move for a cycle not controlled by their own will, I wanted to understand them. Physiologically and humanely. I began seeing addiction as more than a physical or chemical issue, being also as a mental, emotional, and spiritual battle. Although my current research can help lead to a novel treatment for addiction recovery down the line, I wanted to do something to help those struggling right in front of me—not just their children's children. 

Something about the label "handmade with love" sparks something in the minds of those who receive it, igniting the realization that the person behind it crafted it—precisely and passionately—with its perfect "imperfections" as a testifying mark of human creation. Crochet can serve as two roles for recovering individuals: a stress-relief outlet, and as a tangible form of encouragement. No matter how small or big the item, handmade donations evoke a psychological impact for recipients because of the fact that it takes time, money—and most importantly—love. Developing a sense of warmth through my hobby is what makes this initiative have an impact, because what many substance users face is not merely the aftermath of chemical processes—but also mental struggles, despondency, and isolation.