A&E Network today announced the launch of The Recovery Project, a wide-ranging, multi-year initiative designed to help raise awareness that addiction is a treatable disease and recovery is possible. More than 22 million Americans* struggle with addiction to alcohol and other drugs, yet fewer than ten percent receive the treatment they need because of stigma, lack of awareness or cost. The Recovery Project - inspired by the incredible response from viewers, individuals and families in recovery to the Emmy®-nominated documentary series Intervention -- strives to shed light on the scope of the addiction crisis, and its impact on society.
The Recovery Project kicks off on Saturday September 27th with a public celebration organized in partnership with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) in New York City. Thousands of individuals and families in recovery, treatment partners and advocates from all fifty states and the District of Columbia, will join together to form a human chain - a living symbol of recovery - across the historic Brooklyn Bridge and proceed to a rally at City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan.
A&E has partnered with several leading federal agencies and non-profit organizations to develop The Recovery Project, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD); and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA).
During National Recovery Month in September, AETN networks - including A&E Network, History, Bio Channel, and the Crime & Investigation Network - will air a series of public service advertisements, highlighting the importance of treatment and the hope for recovery. Benjamin Bratt, Whoopi Goldberg, Russell Simmons and Christopher Lawford are among the celebrities featured in the campaign.
A dedicated web site, www.therecoveryproject.com, will list ways for viewers to get involved and provide links to charitable organizations they may wish to donate time or resources to.
"Our company has always subscribed to the belief that you can do well by doing good, and The Recovery Project is a fine example of that," said Bob DeBitetto, President and General Manager, A&E Network and Bio Channel. "We believe that the considerable reach of A&E Network provides a powerful platform to address, head-on, this enormous public health issue and the urgent need for meaningful action. Intervention served as a wake-up call to the fact that addiction is a disease pervading every aspect of our society. Nobody is immune, and everyone deserves a chance to fight for his or her recovery."
According to Robert J. Lindsey, President and CEO of NCADD. "NCADD is excited to partner with A&E on The Recovery Project, as a multi year initiative to help change public awareness, understanding and support for alcoholism, addiction and recovery. As a major media company, A&E is stepping forward in a significant way to help increase awareness of this public health crisis, tell the powerful story of recovery and bring hope to the millions of individuals, families and children affected by alcoholism and addiction."
On the grassroots level, The Recovery Project will work with local organizations to help them create their own awareness events. A&E will continue to co-host, along with the Partnership for a Drug Free America (PDFA), and leading MSOs such as Time Warner Cable, Cox and Comcast, Intervention Town Hall meetings in cities across the country. The Town Hall meetings offer opportunities for parents, teens, addicts, government officials, health professionals, substance abuse prevention experts and educators to develop a better understanding about the root causes and consequences of addiction. Other educational outreach initiatives include co-sponsorship of a Time To Talk™ parent guide, developed by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA), focuses on preventing addiction by fostering better communication between teens and their parents about drugs.
*Source: Overview of Findings from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
