Holly Rivera, of Cassville, first told her story of recovery in July 2021. She represented the seventh step to recovery, which is to ask God to remove all of one’s shortcomings.

Her journey was interesting in the fact that she found her way to recovery twice.

Rivera is now in her 16th year of sobriety from methamphetamine, and on Aug. 25, 2023, she will celebrate 3 years sober from alcohol.

She said that forgiveness is a crucial aspect to every step of the recovery process for her and accepting that forgiveness in yourself is the closest thing to facing yourself and your shortcomings.

Rivera lost her father at the age of 15, two years later she tried cocaine for the first time, and two years after that she was pregnant.

After her pregnancy, at the age of 22, she used meth for the first time.

The drug use started out as a “weekend thing,” but shortly took over her entire world.

Rivera struggled with drug use throughout her next two pregnancies, and eventually lost her children for a short period.

She said she was happy for that moment though, because she knew she needed something drastic to happen to get herself clean. She did struggle, but through rehab, a relapse and staring at herself in the mirror, Rivera flushed her drugs and stayed clean these past 16 years.

However, another addiction loomed in the headlights.

Alcohol was always there, but she didn’t think it was out of control, as she felt she was taking care of all the aspects of her life, but in 2019 it too began to take over her life.

Once COVID-19 hit, Rivera said the alcoholism hit her hard. She had experienced the loss of her uncle, and before she knew it, she had acquired three DUI’s. Due to COVID however, she was continuously released from jail.

She then lost her grandfather.

Rivera felt like she was at rock bottom and reached out for help.

That was almost three years ago now, and Rivera has found her sobriety and regained control of her life.

She is still active in Celebrate Recovery and in a number of other organizations.

“I joined the Narcan Outreach after a friend died,” she said. “I was big on suicide prevention. Then I lost my son’s best friend to suicide.

“I dealt with a lot of ‘why’s’ — why is this happening?”

In August 2021, Rivera was rededicated and baptized.

“I lost my grandma a year ago,” she said. “It felt like everything came to a halt, then, there were all of these overdoses happening.”

A woman from a Arkansas suicide prevention group reached out to her.

“She said that suicides and overdoses are in the same category,” Rivera said. “When someone gets clean it doesn’t stop the pain they felt that lead them to use. Life 360 asked me to join the Narcan Outreach.”

Rivera said in February, everything crashed.

“You have to stay strong in recovery and not just numb the pain,” she said. “I was at work and, BAM, I was having a nervous breakdown and panic attack.

“I thought, ‘I can go get a drink right now and mask this pain,’ but instead I realized it is ok to ask for help again.”

The goal of the Narcan Outreach is to get people to understand it, its use and its purpose.

“It is not a required item for police or EMS,” she said. “We are trying to fight overdoses and the stigma that surrounds drug use.”

She is also a part of BLARA (Barry and Lawrence Area Recovery Alliance).

“We meet once a month at the Life 360 in Monett,” she said. “It is a huge team of people who understand addiction and are helping people get the help and resources they need to rebuild.

“These groups are all open to the public to learn.”

Rivera is also a part of RISE (Reaching Independence through Support and education).

“This group helps to teach people professional and financial resources and understanding,” she said. “We are just talking openly and honestly about it and where you can go to talk and learn.”

Rivera said she has learned a lot about coming to terms and facing her own internal struggles.

“In your grief, you can’t just stop,” she said. “You can’t numb it because no matter what, in the morning it will still be there. I want to help people understand there is still tomorrow.

“My strength is inside of myself.”

Contact information for RISE is: Email – projectrisemonett@ gmail.com

Phone – 471-730-9660

Facebook – Project Rise Monett

Contact information for BLARA is:

Email – rachel@coccares. org

Phone – 471-772-3611

Facebook – Barry Lawrence Area Recovery Alliance

Contact information for Life 360 is:

Email – rcmonett@life360.com

Phone – 417-669-9310

Facebook – Life 360 Resource Center

To add or update any meetings, people may call Mark Barton at 417-766-5449.

Meeting schedule

Tuesday

• Celebrate Recovery Cassville at the First Baptist Church in the loft. Meal is served at 5:45 p.m. and large group is at 6:30 p.m., childcare is provided nursery to 6th grade. People may contact Mark Barton at 417-766-5449.

Wednesday

• Shell Knob Celebrate Recovery at the Viola Victory Church at 29604 State Hwy., 39. Meal starts at 5 p.m., meeting starts at 5:45 p.m. Childcare is provided For more information call Jessica at 417-2399001.

• Seligman Celebrate Recovery at Mozark Fellowship at 28277 Frisco Street in Seligman. Meal is at 6 p.m. and meeting starts at 70 p.m. For more information call Loni at 417-827-2737.

• AA meeting, noon to 1 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville.

Thursday

• Monett Celebrate Recovery 6-9 p.m. at the New Site Baptist Church at 1925 Farm Road 1060 in Monett. Meal at 6 p.m. Childcare and nursery up to 5th grade. The Landing for 6th to 12th grade. For more information, people can reach Allan at 417-461-6802.

• AA meeting, 8-9 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville.

Friday

• NA meetings from 6-7 p.m. at 303 East 11th Street in Cassville. For more information people can call Sarah at 417– 846-7045.

Saturday

• SMART meetings from 10-11 a.m. at 208 West 8th Street in Cassville. Alliance counseling. For more information people may call Loni at 417-827-2737. Sunday

• NA meetings from 6-7 p.m. at 303 East 11th Street in Cassville. For more information people can call Mike at 417-8467866.