Friends of Recovery – New York, Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Providers of New York State, & New York Certification Board Host New York Recovery Conference & Celebration

More than 400 addiction recovery advocates gather in Troy to promote & support recovery from addiction to alcohol & other drugs

ALBANY, NEW YORK – September 1, 2016 — Friends of Recovery – New York (FOR-NY), Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Providers of New York State (ASAP), and the New York Certification Board (NYCB) have brought more than 400 recovery advocates from throughout New York State and beyond to the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy to promote and support sustained recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. The event kicked off with a Recovery Celebration on Wednesday evening (8/31) and continues today from 8:30am – 5:30 with a full day program of keynote presentations, panel discussions and workshops led by notable authorities on addiction and recovery from throughout New York State and the nation including:

  • Arlene González-Sánchez, Commissioner, NYS Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services
  • Tom Hill, Senior Advisor, Addiction & Recovery, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA)
  • Greg Williams, Co-founder, Facing Addiction; Producer, “The Anonymous People” and “Generation Found”
  • Tommy Rosen, Founder, Recovery 2.0

There are more than 23 million Americans struggling with addiction to alcohol and other drugs and another 23 million living meaningful lives in recovery from addiction. (In New York State, the estimate is 2 million in active addiction and 2 million in sustained recovery.) The shame and stigma attached to addiction and recovery keep those in recovery from speaking out about their success in overcoming addiction and keep those still struggling (personally or as family members of an individual struggling) from seeking the help they need. As a result, few Americans believe that recovery is real, achievable or sustainable.

The science is clear, addiction is a chronic and progressive disease. It is not a moral failing. Like any other chronic disease, it is treatable, but not curable, and often requires ongoing support to sustain remission. The modern recovery movement is working to erase the shame and stigma by speaking out, not so much about the disease, but about life in recovery — restored relationships and careers, returning to school, earning advanced degrees, running for office, winning Oscars and gold medals, contributing to their communities, and advocating for Recovery services and supports in communities throughout the nation.

According to Robert Lindsey, Chief Executive Officer, Friends of Recovery – New York, “While at its most basic level, the New York Recovery Conference is about Recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, we believe it’s about much, much more. It’s about turning the frustration with stigma into strategies that will help to eliminate not only the stigma, but the barriers to recovery stigma creates. It’s about identifying and implementing services and supports (clinical and peer-based) that will help people achieve and sustain Recovery. It’s about coming together, learning and sharing. It’s about becoming a part of an exciting, crucial and historic movement.”

According to John Coppola, Executive Director, Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Providers of New York State, “We’ve come to Troy from throughout New York State and the country. We’ve come with unique backgrounds and diverse experiences, but we are united by a shared belief; we believe in Recovery. It is that shared belief that makes us a community; a powerful community at that.”

ABOUT ASAP

The Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State (ASAP) is committed to working together to support organizations, groups and individuals that prevent and alleviate the profound personal, social and economic consequences of alcoholism and substance abuse in New York State. ASAP represents the interests of the largest alcoholism and substance abuse prevention, treatment, research and training providers in the country. We also welcome membership from coalitions, business, organizations and individuals who support ASAP’s mission.

ABOUT FOR-NY

Friends of Recovery – New York (FOR-NY) is a statewide, non-profit organization with a mission to demonstrate the power and promise of Recovery from alcohol & drug addiction as well as the value that Recovery provides to individuals, families, and entire communities throughout New York State. We envision a world in which recovery from addiction is not only common, but celebrated; a world in which the entire spectrum of effective prevention, treatment, and recovery support services are available and accessible to all.

ABOUT NYCB

The New York Certification Board (NYCB), a project of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State (ASAP), has as its mission to strengthen health and human services outcomes and enhance the recovery-oriented skills and capacity of the workforce by providing high quality testing, credentialing, and technical assistance.

Press Contact:

Susan Lee Murphy
Director of Communications
Friends of Recovery – New York (FOR-NY)
(O) 518-487-4395, ext. 12 (M) 516-319-0111
[email protected]