For Immediate Release 

Contacts: 

Candy Cargill-Fuller, 310-679-9126 ccargill-fuller@bhs-inc.org or
Barbara Spille, 818-996-1051 bspille@tarzanatc.org

"RALLY FOR RECOVERY" CELEBRATES
NATIONAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION RECOVERY MONTH

Southern California AWARE (Always Working toward Advancing Recovery Environments) will celebrate National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month at a rally on Tuesday September 2, 2003, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration Building, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

That same day (1pm, inside the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration Building, Room 381B) AWARE members will appear at the Board of Supervisors meeting to receive the Board’s proclamation of September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month for Los Angeles County.

Co-sponsors of the  “Rally For Recovery” are Behavioral Health Services (BHS), Tarzana Treatment Centers, CRI-Help, and the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives (CAADPE).

Persons in recovery, family members, friends, persons in treatment programs, and more will come together to give testimony on recovery, and how treatment has worked for them.

Speakers at the rally include Dr. Westley Clark, Director, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT);Henry Lozano, Commissioner, President’s Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities; Patrick L. Ogawa, Director, and Wayne Sugita, Chief Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Alcohol and Drug Program Administration; Albert M. Senella, President, California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives; Larry Gentile, Chairman, Los Angeles County Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Commission.

“Drug and alcohol abuse and addiction have devastating health and societal consequences.  Substance abuse is the root cause of a myriad of health problems—it causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, and untreated addiction takes an enormous economic tool—an estimated $294 billion annually,” said William Davis, Co-chair, Southern California AWARE.  “But it can be successfully treated.  For this reason, the Recovery Month 2003 theme, ‘Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Health,’ is especially appropriate.  Recovery Month is the right time to highlight the benefits of substance abuse treatment and encourage individuals with drug and alcohol problems to begin their journey of recovery,” says Davis. 

During September, communities nationwide join together to help people recognize that substance abuse or addiction to drugs and alcohol is a treatable disease, and that treatment is as effective as it is for other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.  However, in the case of co-occurring mental disorders or co-existing physical illnesses, it is important that the substance abuse and mental and physical conditions be treated simultaneously in a coordinated manner.  During Recovery Month, special efforts will be made by Southern California AWARE to reach out to the health care provider and payer community to encourage their support for effective, available treatment for all those in need. 

Recovery Month celebrates the successes of individuals who are in recovery and acknowledges men and women in the treatment field who dedicate their lives to helping those with addictions. 

Locally, several public awareness activities will take place throughout the month of September:

• September 2, 2003, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  Rally for Recovery - Kenneth Hahn Administration Building (Temple Street side)

• September 2, 2003, 1:00 p.m
  Proclamation- Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Meeting, Kenneth Hahn Administration Building

• Tuesday September 30, 2003
  March for Recovery, Long Beach

Numerous other awareness and fund-raising events will be held.  For more information, contact http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2003/ or www.bhs-inc.org or www.caadpe.org