Governor and OASAS Commissioner Join 10,000 Individuals in a National Rallying for Recovery

ALBANY, NY (09/12/2009)(readMedia)-- Governor David A. Paterson and New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today joined 10,000 individuals in a national recovery movement to celebrate the commitment and accomplishments of those individuals who have begun lives of recovery from addiction.

The rally will begin at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan at 9 a.m., followed by a symbolic walk across the historic Brooklyn Bridge at 9:30 a.m. The rally will be emceed by Scott Clark and Jane Velez-Mitchell, and interventionists from A&E's Emmy-award winning program, "Intervention." White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director R. Gil Kerlikowske will deliver a keynote address. Smokey Robinson will perform a free one-hour concert at Cadman Plaza at 11:15 a.m.

Governor Paterson said, "The magnitude of individuals rallying for recovery speaks to the nature of addiction - it touches everyone. Today I am honored to join with the individuals who are in recovery, along with their family, loved ones, and neighbors who all have overcome the disease of addiction. Through the enormous outpouring of support we see here from the national, state and local levels, we will continue to improve lives, improve outcomes, and see a safer, healthier New York where individuals will live a life in long-term recovery."

Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said, "Through these thousands of voices of recovery rallying together, we can tell the 2.5 million New Yorkers who are dealing with the chronic brain disease of drug, alcohol or gambling addiction that there is hope, there is help and recovery is possible."

Appearing along with the Governor are A&E President Bob DeBitetto, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Director Robert Lindsey, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow, National Faces and Voices of Recovery Executive Director Pat Taylor, and Actress Kristen Johnston.

Also joining the event are the spotlight individuals of the state's Your Story Matters campaign. Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo announced the next 12 spotlight individuals of the Your Story Matters campaign on September 11. Now in its second year, the Campaign encourages New Yorkers to share their stories of recovery in an effort to break the cycle of addiction, eliminate stigma and promote lives of sobriety and wellness. In addition to submitting their story on the interactive website http://www.iamrecovery.com/, site visitors can read the stories and watch videos of the 12 new spotlight stories.

The Recovery Rally -- organized in partnership with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) - marks the second year of The Recovery Project and serves as the national hub for activities happening nationwide. Recovery Delegates selected to represent each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia will lead the A&E Recovery Rally.

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month is an annual observance that takes place each year during the month of September. 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of Recovery Month, carried out by National Planning Partners in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

Recovery Month highlights the societal benefits of substance abuse treatment, lauds the contributions of treatment providers and promotes the message that recovery from addiction in all its forms is possible. www.recoverymonth.gov.

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems dedicated to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, with more than 1,550 programs serving over 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day.

Addiction is a chronic disease and New Yorkers need to know that help and hope is available. Individuals can get help by calling the toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day a week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY. For more information, visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

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