March is annually designated as Women’s History Month, celebrating the contributions women have made throughout American history, culture, and society. The observance began as a local Women’s History Week celebration in Santa Rosa, California, in 1978, coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8th. Congress officially designated March as Women’s History Month in 1987, a tradition continued by presidential proclamation. The campaign’s goal is to highlight the achievements and roles of women, advancing conversations around gender equality and women’s rights.
Recognizing Women in Recovery and Healthcare
In healthcare and in recovery communities, women continue to make meaningful contributions supporting patients, colleagues, and one another with compassion, dedication, and strength. Women represent a vital part of the healthcare workforce, serving as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and many other professionals who help care for our communities every day. Their commitment to patient care, advocacy, and innovation helps shape safer and more supportive healthcare systems.
For women navigating recovery from substance use or mental health challenges, the journey can require tremendous courage. Balancing professional responsibilities, personal wellbeing, and recovery commitments often involves unique pressures and expectations. Monitoring programs exist to support healthcare professionals in maintaining their recovery while continuing to practice safely and confidently.
This month offers an opportunity to recognize the resilience of women who are engaged in recovery and professional monitoring. Their willingness to seek help, commit to wellness, and continue serving others reflects extraordinary determination and integrity. History offers many examples of women who have advanced understanding of mental health and recovery. Leaders such as Clara Barton and Dorothea Dix helped bring attention to compassionate care and the importance of supporting individuals facing health challenges.
In the spirit of Women's History Month, we also acknowledge the women in our own community—participants, staff, treatment professionals, and supporters—who demonstrate resilience, accountability, and leadership every day. Their commitment to recovery strengthens not only their own lives but also the safety and wellbeing of the patients and communities they serve.
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” —Maya Angelou
In other Monitoring News...
Herbal Supplements
One of the most common questions agreement monitors are asked by participants is, “Can I take XYZ supplement?” We recognize that vitamins and herbal supplements are an increasingly popular choice, and we want to provide some guidance around how supplements may interfere with your success in monitoring.
Remember that herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA and are not required to undergo clinical trials and testing. There are no guarantees that the ingredients listed on the bottle are actually in the supplement (the opposite is also true – there may be ingredients in the supplement that are not listed). As such, remember that you are proceeding at your own risk when you use supplements. We strongly recommend that you seek guidance from your primary care provider prior to starting any new supplement.
There are some supplements that we know should NOT be used by participants in monitoring because they may interfere with toxicology testing and cause positive toxicology results.
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Many tinctures and elixirs are made using alcohol – these are not permitted by your monitoring program. If you are interested in taking a tincture or elixir, you are encouraged to look for an alcohol-free version.
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Poppy seeds and California poppy can cause toxicology tests to be positive for morphine or codeine. Any food, drink, or supplement with poppy/poppy seeds as an ingredient is not permitted by your monitoring program.
If you have a question about a specific supplement, your agreement monitor may be able to provide guidance as to whether the ingredients listed on the product would be contraindicated for monitoring. However, Uprise will not guarantee that any vitamin or supplement product is “safe” or “approved.” There may be ingredients in the product that are not listed on the packaging, and it is impossible for Uprise to know how every ingredient may metabolize. If a supplement results in a positive test, please remember that we must follow the guidelines for non-negative toxicology results; this may include a report of non-compliance to the licensing Board and a requirement to step-down from practice pending a third-party evaluation.
We are here to support you on your wellness journey. We hope this information provides some clarity. Please let your agreement monitor know if you have any questions.
Recovery Trek/Program Reminder
If you miss a scheduled test, please remember to notify your Agreement Monitor right away as well as respond to Recovery Trek immediately when they request confirmation of testing. Reminder: It is always a good idea to take a photo of your CCF (if in paper form) and keep for your own records following a completed test.
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