A.R.I.S.E. Magazine

With drug problems rising in Georgia , many residents have taken another approach to how they handle treatment, which has been stigmatized across the country, particularly in marginalized communities. Addiction counselor and VP of Strategy and Transformation of Arise Recovery Residences, Jacqueline Rushin, is one such person. Growing up in Montgomery, AL, Rushin graduated with an MBA in Management from Mercer University. Recently, she has received her MS in Addiction Counseling as well. Growing up during the 1960s influenced how she saw the world. “All of my life experiences from growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam war and witnessing neighbors and friends who came back addicted and mentally unstable...to seeing high-functioning abusers in the workplace led me to committing the latter part of my life to helping individuals and families devastated by addiction and lack of mental health,” she said. Besides working with addicts, she also worked with other victims of society, including sex traffic victims. She spent her time volunteering at churches and experiencing addiction first- hand. One reoccurring trend she noticed was the stigmatization of mental illness, which surpassed all cultural barriers. Witnessing this was why she decided to work with many cultures from across the globe, helping them understand that seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of when you need it. Many people are afraid to seek treatment due to being seen as a failure, losing opportunities, or being disowned by their families. Not only that, but many

Addiction Counselor ”I recognized the stigma of mental illness across many cultures and decided that I would always give of myself to help as many people as possible” – Jacqueline Rushin Jacqueline Ru VP Strategy & Transformation

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