Together Family Foundation and NCADD to offer New York’s First Annual Recovery Film Celebration

New York City’s first annual three-day celebration of classic and contemporary feature films focusing on alcoholism, addictions, treatment and recovery has been scheduled for Friday-Sunday, September 28-30, 2012.

R. Gil Kerlikowske joins Robert J. Lindsey (right) at the Recovery Walks! 2011 in Philadelphia.

Neither threat of rain nor grey skies could deter more than 15,000 people who turned out at Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing for Recovery Walks! 2011, an annual walk in celebration of those in recovery from addiction to alcohol and/or other drugs. The event, sponsored by NCADD Affiliate, The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and their recovery program PRO-ACT, took place on Saturday, September 24th.

The Walk celebrates individuals and families who have sustained long-term recovery and honors people and organizations who make recovery possible. An added benefit of the celebration is that it provides hope to individuals and families who are living with active addiction to alcohol or drugs.

“Recovery Walks 2001 was truly an inspiration and it was a privilege to join 15,000 people celebrating recovery” said NCADD President and CEO Robert J. Lindsey. “The visible symbol of recovery provides a symbol of hope and opportunity for those still struggling with the disease of addiction and are who proud of their recovery.”

Friend of NCAD, Laurie Dhue, veteran TV anchor and in long-term recovery, was this year’s celebrity emcee leading the stage program that took place right after the Walk. Other dignitaries that joined the walkers included Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP); Pamela Hyde, Administrator of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health and Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Westley Clark, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

The event also featured other dignitaries including interventionists Candy Finnigan and Jeff VanVonderen from A&E’s award-winning Intervention show, along with Dr. Libby O’Connell, A&E Chief Historian and Senior VP for Corporate Outreach.

R. Gil Kerlikowske presenting Recovery Month Proclamation from President Obama to Robert J. LindseyOn September 8^th, more than 200 people attended the Recovery Month Kickoff Luncheon hosted by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) in Washington, D.C. in support of Recovery Month 2011:  Recovery Benefits Everyone.

NCADD provided a “Believe in Recovery” wristband for all attendees to be worn to raise awareness of and support for recovery.  According to NCADD President/CEO, Robert J. Lindsey, "I wear my wristband all the time and people always ask me about it.  Virtually everyone has a personal story to tell about how their life has been affected by alcoholism and addiction."  Recently on a flight from New York to Washington, the woman next to him told him about the alcoholism in her family, starting with her dad and his death from alcoholism.  But, she said, “I am living proof of the reality of recovery.  My recovery saved my life and I have been in recovery for 13 years!  And, my 23 year old daughter has been in recovery for 2 years!  My family Believes in Recovery!”

When those who suffer from alcoholism and drug dependence first start to get sober, many of them feel that their lives are over--“I’ll never have fun again,” “My life will be so boring” are thoughts that cross the minds of plenty of newcomers to sobriety as they take their first tentative steps in recovery.

How wrong they are.

Living a life in long-term recovery is filled with activities, events, and plenty of fun.  It doesn’t take long before the newly sober discover that those in recovery “aren’t a glum lot.”  Having survived a near-fatal brush with alcohol or drugs, people in recovery often insist on enjoying life.

As AA’s basic text notes, “Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of our past.  But why shouldn’t we laugh?  We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others.”

Social connections are essential in recovery, and throughout the recovery community there are dances, picnics, and gatherings of all sorts where individuals and family members and their friends can relax in a sober social atmosphere and enjoy each other’s company.

In addition, many who are in recovery feel a responsibility to carry the message of Hope, Help and Healing and speak out and share their experiences with the media, civic groups, community leaders, policy makers and the general public in the communities where they live (see “Advocacy With Anonymity”).

On May 8, 1976, in Washington, DC, NCADD hosted Operation Understanding:  NCADD’s Challenge to Stigma, as the first large scale, historic public celebration of recovery which received extensive worldwide press, radio and TV coverage!  Fifty-three public figures, leaders in their field, stood up and spoke openly about their recovery in an effort to reduce stigma and increase public understanding and support for alcoholism as a treatable disease.  A partial list of participants included: