ATLANTA, Georgia – February 4, 2015 – DeKalb Community Service Board (CSB) joined the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and a host of advocates and community representatives at the capitol on Thursday to celebrate recovery.
Those in attendance included individuals in recovery, prevention providers, community partners, family members and allies. During the morning activities, supporters attended the Recovery Messaging Training where speakers shared their testimonies on how they managed to overcome addictions despite the challenges placed against them.
“Recovery changed my life! Today it has been thirteen years, seven months, and twelve days since I’ve had my last drug or drink,” said Tony Sanchez, long term recovery supporter. “Today I am a homeowner, I am employed, I have insurance, I vote, and I am the proud grandfather to a wonderful four year old boy.”
In addition to the messages of recovery and triumph, partners from Georgia Overdose Prevention celebrated the passage of the Georgia 911 Medical Amnesty Law. Since being passed in April of last year, over 170 lives have been saved. The law allows victims and witnesses to seek help from the police when experiencing an overdose without the threat of criminal penalties. Instead of suffering in silence or running away from potential help, the Georgia Overdose Prevention Organization encourages those suffering with addiction or witnessing it to seek help without fear.
“I am jazzed up about the celebration of our recovery,” said Neil Campbell, Executive Director of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse. “Remember to speak out, not about the mess, but about the beauty of recovery.”
At the close of the morning activities, supporters gathered inside of the capitol, alongside legislators, to rally for recovery and the importance of creating a state where all people have opportunities to get and stay well.
DeKalb CSB offers a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program at the DeKalb Addiction Clinic located at 455 Winn Way in Decatur, Georgia. The program helps individuals move towards the goal of achieving and maintaining recovery from substance related and other mental health disorders. Treatment services include group counseling, individual counseling, skill building, education, random urine drug screening, and/or family treatment sessions and case management in a structured, clinical setting.
DeKalb CSB is a public, nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of evidence-based behavioral health and developmental disability services. Through more than 20 locations across DeKalb County, DeKalb CSB serves more than 10,000 children, adolescents and adults annually to help them recover and resume productive lives. DeKalb CSB employs more than 500 staff, and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). For more information, visit www.dekcsb.org or call 404.508.7875.
Gary Richey, DeKalb CSB Chief Executive Officer and R. Derril Gay, Ph.D
