Special Encore Presentation: The Recovery Community Organizes and Speaks Out with guest Patricia Taylor, Executive Director, Faces and Voices of Recovery

Summary: Our response to the crisis of addiction should be based on sound public health science and the grassroots engagement and involvement of the recovery community – people in recovery, their families, friends and allies. Across the world, the recovery community is organizing to speak out and advocate for policies that help individuals and families get the help they need to recover and the elimination of policies that discriminate against people in or seeking recovery. They are raising their unified voice. A growing movement is promoting the right and resources to recover through advocacy, education and demonstrating the power and proof of long-term recovery. The implementation of national health reform; recognition of innovative peer recovery support services; and policy makers’ attention to recovery, health and wellness create a fertile opportunity for recovery advocates to speak out, fostering collaboration, advocacy and education about the reality of addiction recovery.