Campaign for Recovery in DC kickoff, September 10

From the Mount Pleasant Yahoo Group (Digest Number 3006, sent June 8, 2010) is this from Rob Fleming:

Mount Pleasant has long been a leader in enlightened substance abuse policy and programs, but we're slipping.   We pioneered community-oriented Alcoholic Beverage Control Policy, yet more kids buy here alcohol than in any otherstate (proportionately).   We founded Neighbors Consejo to offer treatment rather than jail, but it's fallen on hard times and does not get the support from the city it once did.   We had community policing before it got fashionable, and closed down drug markets on Mount Pleasant Street in the 90's, but our residents still buy and sell drugs, get out of jail and go back to their old habits in the 2-Teens.   It's time we got back to our traditions, not of protest, but proactive action and program building to ensure that Alcohol and Other Drug Disorders (four times more prevalent than HIV/AIDS, by the way) are recognized early, treated promptly and effectively, and that recovery is sustained for life.

AODDs are symptoms of a brain disease, and telling someone to "just say no" and quit drinking and drugging is like telling someone with AIDS to "just say no" to the infections their immune system can no longer fight off.   And even more than AIDS, AODDs have impacts far beyond the people who decide whether to buy, use, or sell drugs.   That makes them a public policy issue no less than air pollution, national defense, or education.   Yet our leaders take little action because they are busy with other problems that get more attention, like jobs, education, crime, traffic, and health care reform - all problems made worse by AODDs.

On Thursday, September 10th, the DC Recovery Community Alliance will hold a workshop to kick off a Campaign for Recovery in DC to describe the problem, offer solutions, and teach skills to advocate for recovery.   The workshop will be held at All Souls Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave NW at 7:00 pm.   Our Councilman, Jim Graham, will be the keynote speaker.   There is off-street parking at All Souls and it is a few blocks from the Woodley Park Metro (map available here).

There's more information at www.dcrca.org or you can email Rob with questions.