Friends of Recovery – New York Hosts “Stand Up for Recovery Day 2017”

Group Calls for Greater Investment in Addiction Recovery Support Services

February 28, 2017 – ALBANY, NEW YORK – Friends of Recovery – New York (FOR-NY) held its eighth Stand Up for Recovery Day in Albany today. More than four hundred Recovery advocates from communities throughout the state converged on the state capital to call for new, better and more recovery support services (RSS) for the nearly 2 million New Yorkers living in Recovery from the chronic disease of addiction to alcohol and other drugs; as well as for their families.
Specifically the group called for:

  • A Recovery Community and Outreach Center (RCOC), Recovery Community Organization (RCO), Recovery Youth Clubhouse (YCH), Peer Advocate, Recovery Coach, and Family Support Recovery Navigator in every county throughout the state;
  • The establishment of Recovery High Schools and Collegiate Recovery Programs
  • The implementation of an Opioid Addiction Treatment and Recovery Fee
  • Certification of Recovery Housing that Supports Medication-Assisted Treatment & Recovery

According to FOR-NY Acting Executive Director, Stephanie Campbell, “With alcohol and other drugs taking more lives today than were lost in the US during the height of the AIDS crisis, virtually every family in New York State has been impacted by this public health emergency. Given the urgency of this epidemic, we call on our leaders to keep their promise to address the current addiction crisis in New York by investing in recovery high schools for young people, certified recovery housing that includes medication assisted recovery, Recovery Community Organizations, Recovery Community & Outreach Centers, Youth Clubhouses, Family Support Navigators, and Peer Advocates. We must help individuals and families across the state who don’t have access to critical life-saving treatment, get the help they need now.”

The day kicked off with a rally at the Empire State Plaza Concourse Convention Hall during which FOR-NY leadership presented its 2017 Policy Statement and spoke about the critical need for Recovery Support Services (RSS) in every community in New York State. Individuals and family members living in Recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs shared their personal stories; and the first Laura Elliott-Engel Recovery Advocacy Award was presented to Alexis Pleus, an outstanding “Recovery Warrior” from Windsor, New York.

According to FOR-NY Board President, Joe Turner, “Today people from all over New York State who exemplify the power and promise of recovery have gathered to galvanize action on the addiction crisis and turn the tide on this public health epidemic. We must make the necessary investments in recovery support services for individuals and family members following primary treatment, and include those in historically disenfranchised communities. Friends of Recovery – New York (FOR-NY) is calling on the Governor and our friends in the legislature to continue their commitment to building a statewide network of local recovery support services focused on minimizing relapse and maximizing the changes needed for sustained recovery.”

Guest speakers at the Stand Up for Recovery Day rally included Senator George Amedore, Chair of the NYS Senate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, Co-Chair NYS Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction; Senator Chris Jacobs, Co-Chair NYS Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction Chair, Senator Fred Akshar, Co-Chair NYS Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction; Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Chair of the NYS Assembly Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee; Arlene González-Sánchez, Commissioner of the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS); and Chief Pete Volkman, Chatham Village Police Department.

Following the morning program, the group marched to the Capitol for a press conference followed by meetings with legislators from throughout the state to encourage immediate action to address the addiction crisis in New York State.

FRIENDS OF RECOVERY – NEW YORK

Friends of Recovery New York (FOR-NY) is a state-wide Recovery Community Organization (RCO) working on behalf of millions of individuals and families in New York to educate decision makers and the public about addiction recovery. We are dedicated to ending discrimination and removing barriers to treatment, housing, and employment; and we support the expansion of recovery support services for individuals and families. To learn more about FOR-NY, visit us at FOR-NY.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Press Inquiries: Susan Murphy (FOR-NY) – [email protected] or 518-487-4395, ext. 12