Raising Addiction Awareness
It is an exciting time at Sober Living America! Check out Jim, Cassy, and Steve on Fox 6 Alabama today- discussing our new Birmingham location and up coming Fall Fundraising events!
I have been involved with Sober Living America since 1999, and have spent the last 16 years of my life trying to help people through recovery and in finding sobriety. It has always been an important part of my life, and my life's mission to help our residents in Jacksonville. Last week, however, I had a life-changing experience that showed me what an essential part of my life SLA has become.
Sober Living America's Friends Care Campaign was created to serve students, the addiction community, and their friends and loved ones. One of the most unique offerings of the Friends Care Campaign is the Friend Guide, an educational brochure created specifically to help friends and loved ones identify a friend struggling with addiction, and help them in their recovery.
This morning, the article "A Likely Cause of Addiction Has Been Discovered and It’s Not What You Think”, caught my eye. As the founder and CEO of a nonprofit that provides both educational and recovery services for people struggling with addiction, I was intrigued. The sudden influx of information and questions from the media and individuals has struck me lately, as the general public seems to have started to notice a phenomenon that we at Sober Living America are quite aware of: drug abuse and addiction is on the rise, and something needs to be done.
According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services), 22 million Americans currently struggle with addiction. Statistically, that means one in 12 individuals in our society currently experience a dependency on alcohol, prescription pills, and other illicit drugs. Prescription pill and heroine abuse has seen a strong resurgence in recent years- and opiate dependency is at an all time high.
Sober Living America's First Annual 'Stand Up' Addiction Awareness Rally
On Saturday, October 4th Sober Living America held it's first 'Stand Up' Addiction Awareness event at SeaWalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Nearly 50 neighboring businesses, shops and restaurants acted as sponsors to support our cause and to join us in rallying the community together to promote addiction awareness.
We have all heard the tragic news about one of America's most beloved actor, Robin Williams, committing suicide on August 11th. The news of his unfortunate demise has dominated Twitter, Facebook, and headlined top news programs since the event. Perhaps one of the most poignant details of the entire tragedy is the fact that a man whose uproarious personality brought so much laughter and light to millions throughout his extensive career, was suffering so silently.
Part I By Jim deVarennes – President & Founder Sober Living America Are you thinking that you want to stop drinking or using?.
It is an exciting time at Sober Living America! Check out Jim, Cassy, and Steve on Fox 6 Alabama today- discussing our new Birmingham location and up coming Fall Fundraising events!