BACONTON, Ga. (WALB) – When you see the letters SOS you might think of someone calling for help, but in this case it stands for Surviving Our Storm.

Surviving Our Storm is a long-term recovery organization with a mission to help women struggling with addiction.

On Friday, the Baconton Recovery home opened its doors to help women in long-term recovery.

“What I’ve come to realize is that if recovery changed my life, it can change anyone,” says Michele Anduze, co-founder of Surviving Our Storm.

Both Anduze and co-founder Martha Thompson have both been in long-term recovery.

“Everybody knows someone struggling somewhere with some type of addiction, but the stigma of being an addict or an alcoholic sticks around and the stigma is nonsense,” Anduze said.

A negative stigma that can have fatal consequences. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, in 2021, there were over 2,300 drug overdose deaths in Georgia.

That’s why Surviving Our Storms offers relapse prevention resources.

“We want to offer these women a safe place to know that you can recover. You can be the mother you once were. You can be a friend. You can be yourself again. That’s very important,” Thompson said.

The recovery home is accepting women now and can house up to 13 applicants. Click here for more information.

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