On Sept. 8, the Madison County commissioners signed a proclamation recognizing September as National Recovery Month. On hand for the signing were several Madison County residents who are in long-term recovery from substance abuse. Pictured are: (front row, from left) Carrie Mason, Amber Johnson, Jean Perry, Steve Henry, Susan Clifton; (back row) Commissioner Paul Gross, Steve Gumm, Gary Perry, David Arnett, and commissioners David Dhume and Mark Forrest.
(Posted Sept. 10, 2014)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Madison County residents in long-term recovery from alcohol and drug abuse are spreading a message of hope as they promote September as National Recovery Month.
Resident Jean Perry wants the public to know that prevention and treatment programs work and that Madison County is home to many recovery success stories.
One woman who spent 23 years as a prescription drug addict credits local mental health and relapse prevention programs for helping her on the road to recovery.
Another woman said that once she decided to fight her addiction, she found hope through local support groups and Madison County Job and Family Services. Once sober, she earned her master’s degree.
Resident Steve Henry said that, more than anything, addicts and alcoholics need to know people are there for them—not just at support meetings, but at home, from the government and across the community.
“If the community is thinking in a recovery sense, then the support will be there,” Henry said. “The disease devastates so many young people’s lives, and old people’s, too… If left unchecked, it will devastate a community.”
If funding weren’t an obstacle, Perry said she’d like to see support take the form of local treatment centers and job training. Henry said transportation, halfway houses and a detox program at the hospital would go a long way to helping with recovery. Both said, though, that positive emotional support is key.
To increase awareness, area mental health and addiction recovery agencies are sponsoring screenings of the film, “The Anonymous People.” The 88-minute film is a documentary about the more than 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from addiction.
The film emphasizes the personal and societal value of recovery through stories of people who are public about what their lives are like now that they are no longer using alcohol or other drugs.
Screenings are scheduled as follows:
- Sept. 10—6:30-8:30 p.m. at London Community Center, 60 S. Walnut St.
- Sept. 11—6:30-8:30 p.m. at West Jefferson United Methodist Church, 36 S. Center St. (enter at the rear of the church via the lower ramp door)
- Sept. 18—6:30-8:30 p.m. at Plain City Daily Needs Assistance, 340 W. Main St.
- Sept. 28—4-6 p.m. at Mount Sterling Community Center, 164 E. Main St.
Panel discussions follow each screening. Admission is free. Sponsors are the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Clark, Greene and Madison Counties, Mental Health Services for Clark and Madison Counties, Madison County Family Council and Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery.
For more information about the film screenings or about Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Al-Anon meetings in London, contact Jean Perry at (614) 715-7727 or Steve Henry at (740) 852-1318.
