How to Use Recovery Coins: A Step-by-Step Guide to Celebrating Milestones
Congratulations on earning your first recovery medallion! You’ve just accomplished the first milestone in a long journey to sobriety, a journey full of hope and optimism. We bet you can’t wait to share your little secret of turning over a new leaf with the rest of the world.
The surest way to broadcast your resolve to quit substance abuse is by using your recently-earned recovery tokens.
In this article, I’ll share some useful insights on how to use recovery coins.
Photo Credit: DoingItSober.com
1. Earn Them First
To obtain recovery medallions, you’ll need to enroll for a sobriety program that has a reward system.
Recovery coins are typically earned every month. The first token is the most significant,, especially among chronic substance users. It proves that you’ve stayed sober for one month, a feat that requires a great deal of sacrifice and self-discipline.
After the first month, you’ll earn a sobriety medallion for each subsequent month you avoid alcohol and drugs. The tokens will continue until you reach the twelfth month, after which they’re issued annually.
Note that recovery coins come in different colors depending on the milestone accomplished. Each coin stands as a symbol of your firm resolve to break free from the shackles of substance abuse.
2. Display Them Boldly
Recovery coins resemble the typical medallion awarded in honor of tremendous accomplishments. Therefore, they need to be displayed with pride for the rest of the world to see.
One way to display recovery medallions is by getting them mounted on a coin ring.
Coin rings are ideal long-term wearability. They’re perfect for recovering addicts who’ve stayed sober for over one year. The fact that recovery chips received after a year of sobriety are typically bronze-coated makes this coin display option even more preferable.
The following are other ways to display recovery coins;
Photo Credit: DoingItSober.com
Coin Pendant Necklace
Pendant necklaces resonate with wealth and prosperity.
Therefore, a necklace emblazoned with recovery medallions lets you broadcast your resolve to stay sober while adding glamor to your ensemble.
Keychain Holder
Another cool way to flaunt your recovery coins is by mounting them on a keychain coin holder. This option serves as a constant reminder of your commitment to stay sober.
Each interaction with the keychain reminds you of the far you’ve come and the further you can get on the journey to full sobriety.
Airtight Coin Capsule
Setting a sobriety chip in a coin capsule is popular with recovering addicts who want to control who can publicly view their recovery gifts. The capsule also prevents your prized award from becoming damaged through careless handling or by environmental factors.
Most recovery coin capsules come in plastic and wooden varieties. Wooden containers are more elegant while their plastic counterparts last longer
Token Storage Box
Some recovering addicts prefer to flaunt their sobriety medallions to their home guests rather than the outside world. In that case, a token storage box would be ideal.
A token storage box lets you keep several recovery gifts in an organized manner. That’s especially if the box is compartmentalized. You can display the coins upon request or whenever you feel like it.
Photo Credit: DoingItSober.com
3. Venture Out and Spread the Word
Quitting alcohol or narcotics is a monumental sacrifice, especially for chronic addicts. So, if you’ve managed to stay clean even for a month, it’s only natural that you’d want to share your story with the rest of the world.
Venturing out more often is an ingenious way to celebrate each recovery milestone as you interact with other people who might still be hooked to drugs.
Turn up at a gym with a recovery coin dangling on your neck. Who knows, your nice pendant might pique the interest of an addict. It may just be the ice breaker you need to strike a meaningful discussion with the other person and possibly challenge them to follow your lead.
You could also consider giving public speeches at sobriety events and workshops. Be sure to hype recovery medallions as one of the key material benefits of quitting substance abuse.
4. Have a Care and Maintenance Plan
Recovery coins are not just sentimental gifts. The items are also reasonably valuable due to the metals used in coating them.
You certainly wouldn’t want your bronze, silver, or gold-plated medallion to lose its sparkle. That’s where proper care and maintenance come in.
First, insist on cleaning your recovery medallions regularly. Use a soft towel to wipe down the chips at least once a week, then rinse the coins thoroughly at least once monthly.
You’ll need a cotton swab and a recommended cleaning agent for a thorough clean. Gently apply the solution to your medallions using the swab and then rinse it off twice. Rinse first with tap water and then with distilled water.
Do not immerse your recovery chips in a cleaning agent or use harsh chemicals.
When done rinsing, use acetone to degrease and dewater the medallion. Lastly, let the chips air-dry on a paper towel.
Besides cleaning, recovery coins need to be handled carefully to maintain their brilliance. Always hold the chips by their edges rather than surfaces.
Also, wipe your hands clean before handling recovery medallions to avoid exposure to harsh chemicals in skincare and household products.
Final Word
Using recovery coins properly can help prevent relapse while challenging other addicts to follow in your example. It’s also the surest way to preserve the medallions’ durability and aesthetic appeal.