Last weekend I had the joy of attending the National Rally in Washington, DC - #UNITEtoFaceAddiction. 

Where in the world could you hear Dr. OZ, Paul McCartney, The Fray, Sheryl Crow, Steven Tyler, President Obama, and the Surgeon General of the United States?

Made possible by hundreds of organizations throughout the country and lead by The Faces and Voices of Recovery, this first time rally had a duel purpose:

1. A shout from the 20+ million Americans in recovery and the millions more affected by addiction that our policies and laws MUST change to begin treating addiction like the health care issue that it is (not a criminal or moral failing).
2. A 'coming out' party for some of the 21 million people in recovery in America to make the success and joy of recovery more public in an effort to dispense with the many social stigmas playing havoc with our society.

You can find out more about the details of the event over at the this website: https://www.facingaddiction.org/blog/partner/faces-voices-of-recovery 

I arrived hours before the scheduled start time and there were already 5-8 thousand people gathered in the National Mall. As the event drew closer, the crowd poured in. Following a full week of threatening hurricane weather - the attendees had navigated the weather concerns and the crowds undaunted. 

Along the parameter of the mall were a few dozen tents with representatives from organizations all invested in the battle against addiction. From Collegiate Recovery Programs to Medical Treatment Providers - the focus was all the same. We MUST make sweeping changes to successfully battle the causes of addiction and it's rampant destruction of lives and communities in our country. 

The message was clear from the stage - MUSIC rock songs, country ballads, alternate tunes, SPEECHES - politicians, activists, medical professionals, treatment counselors - We must have rapid and significant change in our public perceptions, legal treatment and health care management of those struggling with addiction. The shouts of the stars and thousands of people in recovery from the National Mall lawn proclaimed it: We do recover and we do vote.

Want to know more? Are you all in?

I am the face of addiction...and recovery.