music more than one in five americans suffers directly or indirectly from the disease of addiction and the impact is felt in every sector of every community. fortunately, lives are saved each day through addiction treatment services and the support for those in recovery, by friends, families, coworkers, and entire communities. people in recovery and those who serve them is the focus of national alcohol and drug addiction recovery month. each day, millions of people in long-term recovery

support each other and prove that recovery is working for millions of americans who have reclaimed their lives. this is the very spirit and nature of recovery month. the efforts of thousands of individuals throughout the country yielded more than 800 events nationwide supporting the 2008 recovery month theme of join the voices for recovery: real people, real recovery. recovery month promotes the benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment for individuals, their families, and their communities. it recognizes the contributions of treatment providers and promotes the message that recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders in all its forms is possible. today, we urge every person in this country to pause and reflect on the great gift of recovery and to thank

the thousands of committed workers, counselors, health care providers, physicians, social workers, eap specialists, peer support, and others who toil daily to bring healing to the millions affected by the disease of addiction. the beneficiaries of recovery are not just the individual who has the substance abuse problem, but it's the family, as we pointed out, and the community. an estimated 23.2 million persons need treatment for illicit drug and alcohol use in 2007. of these, only 2.4 million receive treatment at a specialty facility. of the remaining 20.8 million persons who were classified as needing substance use treatment but not receiving treatment, almost 94 percent did not feel they needed treatment-94 percent. nineteen and a half million people abuse substances in this country and don't think they need care. that's something that we absolutely need to change if we're gonna affect that particular statistic. my message today is not to inform you about

the devastation of addiction. i am here to tell you that there are sons, daughters, fathers, and friends who today know the reality of recovery from this disease. i'm here to tell you that people all over the world are finding lasting recovery. people are finding hope for life beyond the guilt and shame of their past. i'm here to advocate for more opportunities for people to get well-as i have-and to thank the fine treatment providers who work in the trenches every day, to take people like me, people without hope for a change, and they recharge that spark, that human will to survive. they helped me get back my dream. not only does the individual have to come forward and help with their treatment, but this disease, in particular, requires the people around the individual to support them in facing the disease and then support them in the path to recovery. we will take, of the 23 million who are now suffering from alcoholism and drug dependence, and make them a mainstream part of society in recovery,

when more of us reach out our hands. i want to thank those of you every day who help not only to get individuals into recovery, but to more importantly, get more hands and hearts educated about what they need to do to help be a part of saving and bringing back those, too many have misguidedly, given up on. we can do this. you do this every day. we need to redouble our efforts. this survey shows what you're doing is saving lives, and i came here to say "thank you." throughout all this year both nacoa and the entertainment industry council have been celebrating 25 years of passionate dedication to bringing effective attention to the pain, sadness, and enormous losses suffered by addicted persons and their family members. we also have been celebrating at the same time the hope and the healing that we and the many of our colleague organizations in the prevention, treatment, and recovery support field represented here today, bring

to so many hurting individuals and their family members. by collaboration that takes place within the recovery community our joint planning and our individual outreach to the public is amplified. this is a media-oriented voice that we have and we are making it be heard and we must continue to make it be heard to further inspire the seeking of treatment and the commitment to recovery. we're also here to acknowledge the persistence in dedication for encouraging people to seek treatment and to get onto the path of recovery. we're here to make news today on behalf of the 22.6 million people in the u.s. who suffer from substance use disorders. and that news is a message of hope and confidence in treatment and recovery. the thing that is so exciting about the family concept is

a very interesting and sitting listening; there had been three different statistics used as far as how many alcoholics there are in the country. i've always used to figure 20 million. either side of that is ok. but if you figure an average family of four, you're talking about a 100 million people in the united states of america are affected by alcoholic behavior. i applaud and thank the volunteers who have worked hard to promote national alcohol and drug recovery month. a month is a celebration. a month amplifies our dedication to assisting our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have recovered. but we all know that it takes 12 months of each year to work hard and to promote our dedication to people who are in need. people trapped by drug or alcohol addiction often feel

like there's no hope, no way out. but for every lock there's a key. and if you have a problem it's good to know there are real solutions to help you get free. for drug or alcohol treatment referral for you or someone you know, call 1-800-662-help. brought to you by the u.s. department of health and human services. people who suffer from drug or alcohol addiction sometimes say hurtful things. they drive the people who love them most away. if you know someone who suffers from drug or alcohol addiction, listen. try to hear what they are really saying. know that there is hope and help them find their voice again. for drug or alcohol treatment referral for you or someone you know, call 1-800-662-help. brought to you by the u.s. department of health and human services. music

what i can tell you about the power of recovery is that recovery means being released from those things that have had you bound for such a long time. so recovery means being released. uh, i want to talk to you about the power of recovery also, for me the purpose of recovery. being that i'm in long, person in long-term recovery, over 23 years of recovery, through the lord, jesus christ, and i feel for me it's a release of bondage, it's also a release to give back. to me the power of recovery is all about coming to terms with life. living life on life's terms and basically staying really focused on what's really important to you outside of yourself, because as an addict everything was a very selfish you know

self-absorbed lifestyle and now to me the most important things are my children, my family, my community. and to me that's the most powerful thing i have received as a result of my recovery. this is a very, very special day and special month, uh, recovery is something that's very important to everyone especially adolescents and adults and to families. i've worked in all levels of care, in-patient, out-patient, and recovery works, uh, if you work it. and i've seen a lot of people over the years whether it be their first time in treatment, second time, third time, uh, get recovery and this is extremely important. music america is a country built from diverse people coming together. when millions of americans stand up together to make a difference in their community, they speak with one voice and lives are forever changed.

recovery month is a great example of this collective unity. in 2008, more than 800 events held throughout the country were posted on the recovery month web site. there were walks, fairs, concerts, picnics, art displays, educational events, sober motorcycle rides, baseball games, and many other types of events that reached millions of americans. individuals touched by addictions and now healed through recovery stood together in support of one another, showing that recovery from addiction is very real, very possible, and that recovery saves lives and dollars. i'm very proud of this collaboration but more importantly, you too should be proud. your work and dedication to make a progressive contribution to our society is remarkable. i'd like to thank all the recovery month planning partners

for their partnership and leadership as well as the many volunteers, friends, and families of the addiction recovery community who made these events possible. the iowa department of public health put together a family day at the blank park zoo in des moines. attendees received "passports," informing them on the day's activities, which included recovery event speakers, prize drawings, and of course, seeing all of the animals. the gadsden treatment center, in collaboration with other substance abuse agencies, organized a recovery walk in gadsden, alabama. over 700 people came out and raised over $7,000 toward area substance abuse treatment. aside from the walk itself, the event featured vendor tables with treatment information, as well as fun activities

including inflatables for children, face painting, horseshoes, food, and live music. the national council on alcoholism & drug abuse of st. louis sponsored a hands across the bridge rally. several hundred supporters from missouri and illinois assembled at the chain of rocks bridge to join hands and connect both states. recovery speakers and elected officials spoke at the event and a unified crowd enjoyed a day of food, fun activities, and live music. recovery supporters in delaware celebrated recovery month in their state by holding a kickoff luncheon. delaware governor ruth ann minner was on hand to speak and to recognize several individuals for their work in the substance abuse treatment field. river valley behavioral health organized a stand for recovery. citizens of owensboro, kentucky, gathered publicly on

the lawn of owensboro courthouse to stand and show their support for the recovery movement. rhode islanders celebrated recovery month by attending a recovery day event in their state capital of providence. the event featured food, face painting, guest speakers, and live music, as well as prevention activities, displays of the recovery quilt, and a vigil for the remembrance of loved ones who were lost to the disease of addiction. faces and voices of recovery greenville put together a rally for recovery concert. admission to the event was free and tables were set up to allow patrons to register to vote. the saint marks inspirational choir kicked off the music festivities and the evening concluded with a performance by national touring singer/songwriter livingston taylor. portland's overdose prevention project again hosted its annual

recovery & wellness resource fair. the event served as a way to inform and educate participants, as well as providers, about recovery-oriented resources and health promotion-related services within the community. the beacon house association of san pedro held its 24th annual recovery block party. this event has grown to become a premier event in the recovery community. the event featured arts and crafts, live entertainment, speaker meetings, information booths, and plenty of food. waianae women in recovery held their 7th annual women and children campout. in addition to workshops dealing with women's issues, the event allowed women to spend a fun filled afternoon with their children by enjoying meals, arts and crafts, and several fun and sometimes messy games and activities. the department of health and mental hygiene sponsored a

recovery month state kickoff in catonsville, maryland. highlights included recognition of elected officials, display tables for local vendors and substance abuse information, as well as food and live entertainment for all to enjoy. a&e network, in partnership with the national council on alcoholism and drug dependence, hosted the recovery project rally in new york city. thousands of people from across the country joined in a historic walk across the brooklyn bridge to raise awareness and show support for recovery from addiction. the celebration took place at city hall park, and featured live music from several bands as well as appearances from a&e talent, national leaders, and special guest celebrities. alaska family services held its 2nd annual recovery celebration. several members from the community were invited to share their stories of addiction and recovery.

the event also featured performances from other members of the community, as well as information tables set up with resources to help with the journey toward sobriety. the event concluded with a memorial to honor family and friends who have lost their lives to the disease of addiction. western dakota tech was the site of a south dakota recovery day celebration. two speakers stood up to share their stories about the impact of their addictions on their college careers, and how they went on to find recovery. residents of the columbus area of ohio celebrated an afternoon of music and recovery with their rally for recovery celebration and jam. various musicians both regionally and nationally known were given the opportunity to entertain the crowd with different styles of music. several keynote speakers also took the stage to speak,

and awards for excellence in service were presented to those who have committed themselves to making a difference in the field of addiction recovery. friends of recovery capital district hosted their first annual recovery run/walk and family day celebration. the theme for the event was "let your life speak," the goal of which was to celebrate sobriety and promote recovery in an effort to reduce the stigma of addiction. in addition to the run and walk, there were games, prizes, and food, as well as informative health and safety booths to promote family safety. community members from henderson, kentucky, showed their support for recovery by participating in a recovery walk. kentuckians united to walk to the women's addiction recovery manor, where a celebration was held that featured recovery speakers, refreshments, children's activities, and a balloon launch in remembrance of

those lost to addiction. music i'm just amazed at a group of young people between ages of 15 and 20, who have hit bottom, who, uh, they end up in jail, they end up on the streets, they have no family ties, and i've watched those kids go to treatment and put their lives back together. kids that, everybody else has given up on, but when the parents get involved get back involved, and the kids-they're miracles, they're miracles. i work on the other end of the street also and try to intervene

on kids real early because if we can stop it, if we can intervene on their drug use and get 'em straight they won't end up like that. i think treatment does wonderful wonderful things. but i don't want my grandchildren to end up there. so that's why i work on both sides of the street. i feel like my place in recovery is to rid the world of the stigma of addiction. i am a medical doctor; i completed medical school and shortly thereafter was off to my first rehab. i was debilitated by drug addiction and i almost lost my life, my career, i did lose my marriage, um, i almost lost everything due to addiction. i didn't know coming out of medical school that professionals, um, and people who came from where i came from could have a drug addiction. but i certainly did. i was born with this disease and because of

treatment and because of, uh, the 12-step programs i have found a new life. i am now clean and sober. i work with the national organization on fetal alcohol syndrome and i get to go around the country and train doctors and nurses on how to better talk to women about addiction. and to show the world that addicts look like everybody, um, they see on the street every day. and, um, you can be well educated, um, or not educated at all. addiction does not discriminate and i hope one day the world sees that. well, i'm so glad to be talking today about the power of recovery. it is an amazing thing to have happened in somebody's life. as somebody once said "it is absolutely a miracle" and i am one of those who have benefited from the miracle of recovery and because of my long-term recovery i am able to be the president in chief exec of a wonderful human services agency and i am the father of four children, the husband of one wife,

and i have been living a great and blessed life. god has favored me and i'm grateful. so, uh, i just invite others to learn, to enjoy, and experience this power of recovery. music i've been introduced by the grace of god to this wonderful thing called recovery. and it has changed... it's given me a life. that's a phrase that you hear over and over and over again, and it seems very trite but it's very true. it gave me not my life back but it gave me my life. at one point, i, i felt that no, this will never change. but i went and i seeked and i got help. and i no longer-i mean it's been 15 years since i had one drink, so, and i don't plan on drinking anymore. i know i won't drink anymore because i've,

i've gotten the help that i needed. when i held my daughter for the very first time i don't know that anybody knew i was doing drugs, but i think my baby knew. and she looked at me and it seemed like this was this gaze straight from god, straight from heaven, and i knew that i was no longer alone. and it was such a powerful moment that just shook my very existence to stare into these newborn eyes and know that i had to do something. recovery was possible for me because i got the help that i needed when i needed it. and recovery is possible for anybody who seeks it and wants it and is willing to work for it. for me, recovery is about giving back, now. it's about creating hope and stability in my life. when i was actively using, i didn't have a whole lot of hope. in recovery? i have a tremendous amount of hope. i have stability in my life today. i've been able to regain the things that i lost to active addiction--and i've been able to discover

new things about myself. to break the cycle that has plagued so many alcoholic and drug-addict families that it passes on from one generation to the other. this breaking of the cycle is probably the most significant thing that i've seen happen in our family. we really do need to come together as a recovery community, even if you're not able to tape yourself or show up on national television. we need your support and we need your help and we need your numbers and your experience to be counted so it's important to hook up with faces and voices or your local recovery communities and to be a part of this so we can fight societal discrimination and make it easier for the next generation to come up and get the help they need. music

if someone you know needs help for a substance use disorder, where do you turn to find treatment? the substance abuse treatment facility locator was created just for this purpose. it is a searchable directory of more than 11 and a half thousand treatment programs around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems. the locator searches for the facilities in the nearest city or address that you specify and displays maps showing the exact locations of the treatment facilities that meet your search criteria. to access the treatment locator, go to the recovery month web site and click the link to locate a treatment center in your area. from there you can customize your search and the locator will give you a list of the treatment centers nearest to you. music

thank you, have a great day. music i hope this show inspires you to organize a recovery month event next september. our 2009 theme is, join the voices for recovery: "together we learn. together we heal" this will be our 20th year of celebrating those who contribute to this field and those who have overcome addiction and reclaimed their lives. your continued involvement in organizing events and activities in september 2009 is critical. you can get started right now by going to recoverymonth.gov and becoming familiar with the 2009 materials. recovery month events come in all shapes and sizes. one thing they all have in common is that they all spread the message of recovery to those in need...a sense of hope that

people who reach out for treatment can find recovery and a new way of life free from alcohol or drugs. by focusing on recovery we all address the need to recognize those who achieve it and also address addiction, our nation's number-one health problem. music every september national alcohol and drug addiction recovery month provides an opportunity for communities like yours to raise awareness of alcohol and drug use disorders and highlight the effectiveness of treatment. the free recovery month kit can help your organization plan events and activities in commemoration of this year's recovery month observance. this user friendly kit offers ideas, materials, and tools for planning organizing and realizing an event or

outreach campaign that matches your goals and resources. to obtain your copy of this year's recovery month kit and gain access to other free publications and materials related to addiction treatment and recovery issues. visit the samhsa web site at www.samhsa.gov or call 1-800-662-help. you can also download the kit at www.recoverymonth.gov. it's important that everyone become involved because addiction is our nation's number-one health problem and treatment is our best tool to address it. music

♪ whatever we deny or embrace ♪ for worse or for better ♪ we belong ♪ we belong, we belong, we belong together ♪ underneath everything we are, underneath everything we do, we are all people--

connected, interdependent, united-- and when we reach out a hand to one, we can influence the condition of all. that's what it means to live united. ♪ we belong patty: hello? cathy: patty! i've decided to follow your lead and file for social security benefits online. patty: but cath, aren't you back in zanzibar? cathy: i just got on my laptop and went to socialsecurity.gov. it took less than 15 minutes! patty: wow! you are a miracle worker. cathy: well, cheers, patty. i'm off to film a baby rhino. ♪ when cousins are two of a kind! ♪ patty: a baby rhino.