Main Menu  Table of Content

SAMHSA-Sponsored Community Forums/Events

SAMHSA sponsored a total of 41 community forums/events that reached a total of 35,062 people throughout the nation in 2005. As in past years, forums/events included an emphasis on multicultural populations.

The SAMHSA-sponsored community forums/events began and/or continued a community discussion on substance use disorder recovery and established a community environment supporting treatment programs that help individuals reclaim their lives. SAMHSA helped highlight three major areas for improvement: improving the assessment and referral of people in need to treatment services; providing greater access to personalized treatment programs; and continuing to increase the availability of treatment services. Community events addressed local community issues and defined specific objectives and action steps to broaden support and access for individuals in recovery, their families, and friends.

Cities that hosted official SAMHSA-sponsored Recovery Month 2005 community forums or other events included:

• Tucson/Phoenix, Arizona
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Los Angeles, California
• Hartford, Connecticut
• Waianae, Hawaii
• Davenport, Iowa
• Mayetta, Kansas
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Augusta, Maine
• Jackson, Mississippi
• Lincoln, Nebraska
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Nashua, New Hampshire
• Columbus, Ohio
• Portland, Oregon
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Providence, Rhode Island
• Columbia, South Carolina
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Houston, Texas
• Montpelier, Vermont
• Vermont/New Hampshire (joint event)
• Richmond, Virginia
• Martinsburg, West Virginia
• Cheyenne, Wyoming

Working closely with partners in major cities across the country, SAMHSA sponsored 13 community forums/events where individuals in recovery, experts, and legislators discussed local addiction treatment issues. The combined estimated attendance for all 13 events was 12,841. These events were extremely successful and included a variety of activities such as: recovery walks; festivals; freedom rallies; information and entertainment forums; and health fairs.

SAMHSA also sponsored 15 minority focused events that reached 18,085 people. Some of these events included: "Healing Asian American and Pacific Islander Lives, Families and Communities; Native American Wellness Association Summit; and Wyoming's Voices for Recovery. Two of the events, one in Texas and one in Mississippi, had to be postponed due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

For the first time ever, SAMHSA sponsored state-wide 3 recovery rides in Florida, Massachusetts, and California that reached 812 people. Highlights of these events included family festivals, live entertainment and speeches by local public officials.

Also included in SAMHSA's 2005 sponsored events were 10 Recovery Month Major League Baseball (MLB) events where more than 3,000 individuals attended in celebration of Recovery Month . Highlights from this years MLB events include the production and distribution of 4,000 t-shirts and Game Day Programs featuring Recovery Month . The games drew local recognition and media attention for recovery issues. Recovery Month was recognized and saluted during the first pitch. Bobby Petrocelli, nephew of former Red Sox player Rico Petrocelli, attended the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Game in Florida and shared his recovery story at a pre-game VIP party. MLB events were held in the following cities:

• Detroit Tigers - September 14
• Kansas City Royals - September 14
• Texas Rangers - September 15
• Philadelphia Phillies - September 15
• Tampa Bay Devil Rays - September 15
• Baltimore Orioles - September 18
• Colorado Rockies - September 19
• Chicago White Sox - September 21
• Cincinnati Reds - September 23
• Arizona Diamondbacks - September 24

In addition, SAMHSA was a sponsor of Under the Influence: The Film Series. The festival, presented by the Recovery Network Foundation, began September 13 at the American Film Institute Silver Theater in Silver Spring, MD. Under the Influence: The Film Series was a showcase of feature films and documentaries in which addiction and recovery play leading roles. Following the D.C.-area launch, Under the Influence conducted a national tour of select cities and college campuses across the U.S. Panel discussions followed the screenings, with filmmakers, recovery advocates, addiction and mental health superstars, public policy-makers and other experts, and focused on how the films in question enhance or subvert the precepts and goals of recovery from alcoholism, drug and other addictions.

CSAT Director Dr. H. Westley Clark participated in a post-screening discussion in October where topics of discussion included issues such as stigma, the role of spirituality in recovery, and the relationship between art and addiction. Under the Influence: The Film Series was attended by a total of 324 people and was supported by professionals of the highest stature. The Recovery Network Foundation Web page provided a link to SAMHSA's Web site, www.recoverymonth.gov. Due to the success of The Film Series, Discovery Communications is now considering Under the Influence for an episodic feature series on the Discovery Health Channel.

Locally Sponsored Community Events

As of December 2005, 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico held 508 events in 261 cities, an increase of 22 percent over 2004 Recovery Month events, reaching over 1 million people-this includes the SAMHSA-sponsored local community events and MLB initiative. To promote local community events and inspire more participation, community organizers were encouraged to list their local events and activities on the official Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov. These events are recognized on the events list page, which was configured as a map of the United States, so viewers could click directly on a state or select it from a drop down menu to view the events that took place in each state nationwide.

Recovery Month 2005 Proclamations

President George W. Bush issued a proclamation celebrating September 2005 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. In addition, another 125 proclamations were issued throughout the country: 21 by governors and state legislators; 89 by mayors and county and city council members. There were also 15 proclamations from Native American tribes and affiliated centers issued to celebrate Native American Wellbriety Month. Following is a copy of the Presidential proclamation and a list of other proclamations issued for Recovery Month 2005.

The White House

President George W. Bush

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, 2005
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

The devastating effects of alcohol and drug addiction have destroyed the lives and families of countless Americans. During National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, we recognize the dangers of substance abuse and renew the hope of overcoming addiction for individuals across our Nation. This year's theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Healing Lives, Families and Communities," encourages those striving to recover from this disease and recognizes the many families, support organizations, faith based and community groups, and volunteers working to help overcome addiction.

Substance abuse leads to a cycle of addiction and despair that too often causes disease and death among young people. The Helping America's Youth initiative, led by First Lady Laura Bush, is promoting positive youth development and combating alcohol and drug addiction. This initiative is helping our children to make healthy choices and build lives of purpose. To aid citizens seeking treatment and recovery for substance abuse, my Administration also has provided $200 million over the past 2 years for the Access to Recovery program. My 2006 budget requests an additional $150 million for this program to further expand treatment choices. Directing resources to individuals allows them to choose a program that suits their needs and increases their chances of success. In addition, we have increased opportunities for communities and faith-based providers to aid those suffering from addiction.

I encourage all Americans to support individuals striving to overcome addiction and the groups that are helping to fight alcohol and drug addiction. By working together, we can continue to build a more compassionate society that transforms lives and provides health, hope, and healing to those who hurt.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2005 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Recovery Month 2005 Proclamations Issued

Alaska Kake Ketchikan Gateway Borough State of Alaska Arizona State of Arizona Town of Gilbert California Anaheim California State Assembly Calimesa Chickasaw/Choctaw Council of NWLA Colton County of Fresno County of Los Angeles County of Santa Barbara Fairfield Hawthorne Hillsborough Irvine Laguna Niguel Lake Forest Lompoc Long Beach Malibu Palm Desert Placentia Rohnert Park Sacramento Native American Health     Center San Clemente San Dimas San Pablo Santa Clara Santa Fe Springs Santa Monica South Gate United American Indian Involvement     Inc. Vacaville West Covina Colorado Arvada Denver Englewood Connecticut Burlington New Britain Plymouth Southington Florida Bartow Boca Raton Cooper City Lake Worth Margate Parkland Safety Harbor Tarpon Springs Georgia Brunswick State of Georgia Hawaii County of Hawaii County of Honolulu State of Hawaii Illinois State of Illinois Village of Alsip Village of East Hazel Crest Village of Morton Grove Village of Skokie Zion Indiana State of Indiana Iowa Ames County of Story State of Iowa Kansas County of Sedgwick Kentucky Estill County Florence McKee and County of Jackson Maine State of Maine Massachusetts Senate Resolution State of Massachusetts Turning Point, Inc.

Michigan Dearborn East Lansing Livonia Southgate Minnesota Juel Fairbanks Chemical Dependency Services     Inc. Montana Blackfeet Community College Butte-Silver Bow Nebraska Omaha Tribe of Nebraska Tribal Council Nevada Fallon New Jersey County of Monmouth County of Sussex Passaic Passaic Passaic New Mexico Farmington Hobbs Totah Behavioral Health Authority New York State of New York North Carolina Cherokee Diabetes Program County of Carteret County of Onslow Healing Through The Elders Wisdom Wellbriety     Group Jacksonville Morehead City Town of Cary Ohio State of Ohio East Cleveland Upper Arlington Oklahoma Riverside Indian School Oregon Beaverton Tigard Pennsylvania Senate of Pennsylvania The Lenape Nation of Indians Rhode Island Rhode Island House of Representatives Rhode Island Senate Town of Westerly South Carolina Orangeburg State of South Carolina Tennessee State of Tennessee Texas Houston Vermont St. Johnsbury Vermont St. Johnsbury Washington County of Clallam State of Washington Vancouver Yakama Nation West Virginia Morgantown Ranson Wisconsin State of Wisconsin Wyoming Shoshone & Arapaho Tribes State of Wyoming Wind River Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal     Substance Abuse Court