New Yorkers Celebrate National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month at the 3rd Annual NY Recovery Rally

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (09/16/2010)(readMedia)-- Addiction is a top public health issue in this country, affecting nearly 22 million people. In the state of New York alone, approximately 2.5 million people, or one in seven residents, are dealing with alcohol, drug or gambling addiction. The good news is that millions are in recovery and America needs to hear their stories of courage.

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, in support of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, thousands of New Yorkers will gather for the 3rd Annual New York Recovery Rally to celebrate the reality of recovery from addiction and offer hope to those who have yet to find recovery.

This national media event at Randall's Island Park in New York City, made possible by founding sponsor A&E Network's The Recovery Project and a number of other supporting organizations, will include celebrities, nationally recognized entertainers, leaders from government and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals and families in recovery.

Governor David A. Paterson said, "New York is proud to once again support recovery from addiction, a disease that touches every American family in one way or another. We know that recovery is possible and New York is leading the way to bring that message to our state and nation, honoring all those who are in recovery, along with their families and loved ones."

New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo added, "There are many pathways to recovery and each person's journey is unique. We again will proudly join together as New Yorkers to welcome all those who celebrate recovery and offer hope to the 2.5 million New Yorkers who are dealing with the chronic brain disease of drug, alcohol or gambling addiction."

The rally will begin with the Odyssey House 5th Annual "Run for Your Life" 5K race at Icahn Stadium at 10 a.m., followed by a Recovery Walk at 11 a.m. that will launch the 3rd Annual NY Celebrates Recovery Rally at the Harlem River Event Site on Randall's Island. A rally concert begins at noon with a diverse and exciting list of performers, including Courtney Love, who will perform with Hole guitarist Micko Larkin and Simon Kirke of Bad Company; movie, television and Broadway star Kristen Johnston and one of the country's hottest comedians, Greg Giraldo, judge on the hit NBC program "Last Comic Standing".

Hosted by WABC sportscaster Scott Clark and veteran broadcast journalist Laurie Dhue, the rally lineup will also include the Japanese Harlem Gospel Choir, R&B artists Bradd Marquis, Darryl Johnson and Sharice Styles; rock alternative band Crazy James; blues guitarist Paul Zunno and dance group Heaven's Radicals.

The rally will be filmed for inclusion in the new documentary "The Secret World of Recovery", written and produced by veteran journalist and New York Times bestselling author Leslie Glass and her screenwriter daughter Lindsey Glass. The film will feature footage from various treatment programs around the country and updates on changes in addiction treatment in the last decade. Leslie and Lindsey's goal is to shed light on the many misconceptions surrounding addiction and recovery and celebrates the millions of people in recovery who are turning their lives around.

In addition to A&E, the rally sponsors are Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Alkermes, Inc., the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD), Friends of Recovery-New York (FOR NY), Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Providers of New York (ASAP), Odyssey House, the National Youth Recovery Foundation, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).

Robert J. Lindsey, president and chief executive officer of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD), said, "For more than 20 years, NCADD and our National Network of Affiliates have held local events across the country to celebrate recovery, for the person in recovery, their family and those who support them. And, in the process, we provide a powerful symbol of hope, help and healing for the millions of families still living with active addiction to alcohol and drugs."

Ira Marion, Board president of the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of NYS, said, "ASAP is a proud sponsor of this celebration and the countless number of New Yorkers in recovery from alcoholism and substance use dependence. The Recovery Rally puts focus on the successful outcomes our providers produce every day in New York's prevention treatment and recovery programs."

Laura Elliott-Engel, president of Friends of Recovery New York, said, "The wonderful collaboration across New York to make recovery visible and celebrated is truly testament to the dedication of a growing movement. This event lets all New Yorkers know that recovery works and is amazing in the sunlight."

Following the Odyssey 5K and the Rally Walk that will follow a brief course around Randall's Island, rally attendees will be invited to picnic on the expansive lawn area with their own food or purchase from on-site vendors at the Rally Food Court for the afternoon of musical performers and speakers.

Also joining the event are the spotlight individuals of the state's "Your Story Matters" campaign. Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo will introduce the next 12 spotlight individuals at the Rally. Now in its third 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 www.iamrecovery.com, site visitors can read the stories and watch videos of the 12 new spotlight stories.

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month is an annual observance that takes place each year during the month of September. This year marks the 21st 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. For more information, please visit www.recoverymonth.gov.

Addiction is a chronic but highly treatable disease. We want to help lift the stigma of addiction by sharing the message that treatment for addiction CAN and DOES work. Treatment not only saves lives, it also saves our country untold amounts of money, brings families closer together and increases productivity in schools and the workplace. Treatment is good for local communities and good for this country in general.

New Yorkers need to know that help and hope are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on our toll-free HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY. For more information, visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

DIANNE HENK, Director of Communications, OASAS

EMAIL: diannehenk@oasas.state.ny.us

PHONE: (518) 457-8299

LAURIE DHUE, Co-emcee and National Youth Recovery Foundation board member

EMAIL: lauriedhue1@gmail.com