One Health

Substance use disorder is a public health crisis! The number of deaths in the United States in 2021 attributed to substance use disorder – drug use, opioids, alcohol,  cocaine, amphetamines, and other drugs – is estimated to be 159,087.  Alcohol misuse was estimated to cost the United States $249 billion in 2010 and the costs for opioid use disorder and fatal opioid overdose was estimated to be $1.02 trillion in 2017. Most of the economic burden from opioid use disorder can be attributed to reduced quality of life and the loss of life due to fatal opioid overdose. A compelling argument can be made about the benefit of providing treatment for those who suffer from substance abuse disorder and on-going support needed for a healthy recovery journey. Pets can play an important role in the journey.

Substance abuse disorder often manifests in inappropriate behavior that can damage relationships with families and destroy friendships. A pet provides unconditional love and is non-judgmental about past behaviors therefore can provide healing, solace, and companionship in the recovery journey. Preliminary findings from a study being conducted by the Program for Pet Health Equity with residents of a permanent sober living community indicate that pets are a source of unconditional love, provide a sense of purpose and source of joy, serve as a conduit for building relationships, and enhance the development of life skills needed for a healthy life.

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Linda Daugherty
Associate Director
Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
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I appreciate this info. I am currently working on setting up a foster care program for folks who need to enter in patient treatment programs.

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Roxane Fritz
Veterinary Program Coordinator
San Mateo County
CA
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Roxanne, this is such a needed service. I would love to hear more about your program.

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Linda Daugherty
Associate Director
Program for Pet Health Equity
TN
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-15-2025 02:22 PM
From: Roxane Fritz
Subject: Pet's role in the recovery journey

I appreciate this info. I am currently working on setting up a foster care program for folks who need to enter in patient treatment programs.

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Roxane Fritz
Veterinary Program Coordinator
San Mateo County
CA
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Thanks for sharing this vital information.

With our FFURRR program we aspire to support our community members coping with homelessness and drug addictions.

Our FFURRR (Feral Feline Ultimate Rescue, Rehab & Re-home) Program brings feral cats indoors which protects endangered small animals and wild birds (that are essential for the ecology of our entire planet), while providing transitional homes for those moving from being unhoused to having their own homes and rejoining society. We will be training these people in healthy ways to socialize these feral felines and hopefully when they acquire jobs and are ready to move into their own home they will take their kitty companion with them. We do not yet have an active  working model. However, many people are interested in our FFURRR program because of the holistic way we support  cats and people in need teaching them healthy lifestyle skills for improving their lives.

Our first step is acquiring our new facility and then this program will be activated once we secure funding specifically for this mission.

Last year I spoke with a young woman who was nearing her 1 year of sobriety and would need to leave the recovery facility she hd been lviing in. When I told her baout FFURRR she exclaimed that she would LOVE to have a place like that to move into. After all, she continued, I'm not supposed to have a 'relationship with a man' so it would be wonderful to build a relationship with a cat!

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Leslie Moran
Executive Director
Emerald Ark
NV
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