Planting Seeds Of Growth Gardening And Addiction Recovery

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“When gardeners garden, it is not just plants that grow, but the gardeners themselves.” – Ken Druse

How Gardening Can Help With Addiction Recovery and Overall Wellness

Addiction is a chronic, progressive, and debilitating disease that destroys individuals, families, and communities. Addiction costs the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars in increased healthcare costs, crime, and lost productivity. Abstinence is integral, but only a small part of recovery. Successfully treating drug abuse is about so much more than abstinence, it’s about growth. Often, those new to recovery feel the need to feel a void once filled by alcohol, drugs, or other unhealthy behaviors. It’s important to find healthy alternatives to fill those voids. That’s why we offer many types of programs here at Lake Point Recovery and Wellness. We have amazing programs like our Fishing program or our Tomorrow Garden.

Related: What is Addiction and How Can it be Treated?

Benefits of the Tomorrow Garden for Recovery

Introducing our clients to basic gardening skills not only empowers them to grow their own food but also educates them on food preparation and introduces them to healthier eating options. It teaches individuals life skills that extend to the community by working in groups, sharing knowledge, and opening connections with others in the community interested in cultivation.

Our Tomorrow Garden groups teach the benefits and value of hard work, how to foster healthy relationships, and cultivate healthy eating habits. Gardening also increases opportunities for improved physical health, and mental health and provides a healthy sober activity. Working in a garden with others also fosters communication skills, and the knowledge they gain in the program allows them to pass these skills on to others.

Research shows that involving those struggling with addiction in meaningful and purposeful activities increases joy and opportunity. These meaningful activities can create lasting changes for these individuals even at a neurological level[1]. Physical exercise, sunlight, and connection to others have been proven to reduce depression and anxiety, which in turn reduces the chance of relapse.

The benefits of gardening go beyond the body and mind, to the pocketbook as well. Clients who engage in our Tomorrow Garden group learn skills to not only reduce food costs on a facility level but also on a personal and global level. Honing skills that allow clients to produce and prepare their food, lowers the cost of buying these foods at stores, and provides healthy alternatives that may not otherwise be affordable. This also lowers healthcare costs by reducing processed food intake and encouraging exercise and outdoor activity.

Numerous research studies have shown that using therapeutic activities that incorporate gardening is an evidence-based practice that leads to “improved mental well-being, increased physical activity, and a reduction in social isolation[2],” all of which improve the chance of long-term recovery. Consistent engagement in activities such as gardening reinforces neural pathways of behavior, which increases the chance that clients will continue to use gardening as a coping skill after they leave our facility.

Lake Point’s Gardening Program:

  • Enhances the community’s economic stability and growth
  • Empowers participants towards self-sufficiency
  • Supports clients in maintaining independence and attaining recovery objectives
  • Elevates the quality of life in economically disadvantaged areas
  • Fosters greater community involvement and engagement

Long-term recovery requires a full and well-rounded lifestyle to make abstinence sustainable. By applying evidence-based strategies in our gardening program we can help those recovering from addiction find meaning, joy, and healthy sober hobbies. At the core of our program at Lake Point is learning the skills to maintain sobriety and abstain from unhealthy behaviors, while instilling hope. Recovery is about more than just the removal of an addiction; it embodies personal growth. Given the heightened vulnerability of those grappling with addiction, interventions must prioritize enhancing purpose and well-being. That’s why we are committed to implementing comprehensive programs that establish a solid groundwork for clients to cultivate a life rich in purpose, significance, and joy.

Tim Hughes, MS, LPE-I, AADC

[1] Powers, J. 2014. An introduction: How to flourish in addiction recovery. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-abstinence/201405/introduction-how-flourish-in-addiction-recovery.

[2] Howarth M, Brettle A, Hardman M, et al

What is the evidence for the impact of gardens and gardening on health and well-being: a scoping review and evidence-based logic model to guide healthcare strategy decision-making on the use of gardening approaches as a social prescription

BMJ Open 2020;10:e036923. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036923

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