Consumer Advocates in Substance Abuse:

Your Most Powerful Allies

2009 NIATx Summit/SAAS National Conference

Mike McLemore,MA, CCS, MLAP, CPMNeil Kaltenecker, MS Tammy Peacock, Ph.D., LCSW

Objectives Understand the role of consumer

advocates working with state agencies

Identify ways to generate grass roots support for consumer advocates

The impact of the consumer voice on public policy

Consumer Advocacy

or

Who is REALLY in Charge?

Consumer Advocacy Faces and Voices of Recovery, Science of

Addiction & Recovery (Train-the-Trainer)

Georgia Recovery Organizations for Wellness (GROW)

Alabama Voices for Recovery/FORMLL

Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care Symposium

The Recovery Project

Faces & Voices of Recovery

Changing public perceptions of recovery

Promoting effective public policy

Demonstrating that recovery is working for millions of Americans

It is our collective strength that will ensure our success, and it is our mission to bring the power and proof of recovery to everyone in America.

GROW Georgia Recovery Organizations for

Wellness (GROW)

Develop grassroots advocacy through education, training and support

Alabama Voices for Recovery/FORMLL

Serves in an advisory role to the Alabama Dept. of Mental Health Substance Abuse Service Division

Coordinates Recovery Month activities Advocates for increased funding for

treatment (12 million increase in state funds)

Educates legislators and the public about addiction and recovery

Provides a public profile for addiction recovery

Legislative Issues Criminal Justice Issues

Sentencing Reform Deferred Prosecution & Alternative

Sentencing Mental Health Parity Second Chance Act Restoration of Rights Financial Aid for Higher Education Funding for treatment

How Can Advocates Help … Contact legislators regarding legislation and

funding Increase awareness that recovery happens Rally support for your causes through friends,

family members and their networks Serve on advisory boards Provide volunteer support for the organization Provide peer support for clients Provide input for the development of a recovery

oriented system of care

How Advocates Can Help …. Visible presence of individuals who are

recovering: Increases awareness that recovery happens Decreases the stigma of addiction Normalizes the fact that everyone is touched

by addiction in some way

Why don’t people get involved?

…. they haven’t been asked.

Be specific with your request.

Consumer Advocacy Faces and Voices of Recovery, Science of

Addiction & Recovery (Train-the-Trainer)

Our GoalsOur Goals

1) Learn the neurobiology of addiction and recovery.

2) Understand why it’s important for recovery advocacy and the recovery community

Why the science of addiction and recovery is important

For the Recovering Person

helps people on their recovery journeys

helps people understand their cravings

Facilitates the recovery process for person and family members

SOAR Talking Points Addiction is a brain disease

Addiction is very much like other illnesses that affect our behavior 

You can maintain long-term recovery from addiction, just as with other chronic illnesses

Recovery from addiction is a life long health issue, requiring people to manage their illness

Consumer Advocacy ROSC Symposium

Collaboration with SATTC, SSA and local, well-established consumer-advocacy organization

Bill White, Lonnetta Albright, Ijeoma Achara

Win, Win, Win!

Where Are We as a State?Public Tx Admissions in GA

29,8

52

29,8

20

22,3

23

19,8

28

20,3

75

16,1

60

12,9

63 17,1

61

30,2

32

36,7

66

34,0

87

36,0

44

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

FY

92

FY

93

FY

94

FY

95

FY

96

FY

97

FY

98

FY

99

FY

00

FY

01

FY

02

FY

03

Year (FY98 to FY03 change)

Adm

issi

ons

under 18 (+272%) 18-25 (+122%) 26+ (+189%) Total (+178%)Source: GA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 1992-2003. http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/SAMHDA-SERIES/00056.xml

Where Are We as a State?

Outpatient50%

IOP29%

Residential10%

Detox11%

Source: GA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 1992-2003. http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/SAMHDA-SERIES/00056.xml

Where are We as a State? Single State Authority

~$50 mil SAPTBG (unknown impact in 2010) ~$50 mil in State funds (reduced by 24% in 2010) ~$25 mil TANF/RFW funds (reduced by $6 mil in 2010)

Other State Agencies Administering SA Tx Funds DFCS DJJ SBPP DOC DCH

Where Are We as a System?

Licensing Standards Office of Regulatory Services

Practitioner Certification Georgia Addiction Counselors Association

(GACA) – NAADAC affiliate Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of

Georgia (ADACB-GA) – IC&RC Affiliate

Advocacy Georgia Council on Substance Abuse Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network

ADVOCACY

www.gasubstanceabuse.org

GCSA Re-launch Survey & Results

Public Policy Advocacy

Workforce Development

Information dissemination

Consumer Advocacy

GCSA Re-launch Public Policy Advocacy

Legislative Day at the Capitol

Web-based Legislative Updates

Weekly Email Blasts & Calls to Action

GCSA Re-launch Public Policy Advocacy – Membership on

Boards and Committees Olmstead Planning Council (appointed by the Governor) Mental Health Planning & Advisory Council (appointed by

DHR Commissioner) Georgia School of Addiction Studies Board Kidsnet Georgia Statewide Collaborative Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center (SEATTC)

Advisory Board Georgia Brief Assessment, Screening, Intervention,

Continuum of Care System (BASICS) Policy Steering Committee

Georgia Association of Recovery Residences (GARR) Affiliate Board Member

Alcohol & Drug Certification Board of Georgia (ADACB/GA) Faces & Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) Southeast Regional

Member

Regular Legislative Updates

CLICK HERE

Information Dissemination Website Development

Re-design “Roundtable” Button

Membership Blast out training events Develop Committees & Projects

Convene Meetings

Workforce Development Annual Youth Summit (4 years)

The Georgia School of Addiction Studies (3 years)

Annual Legislative Day at the State Capitol (9 years)

Annual Recovery Resource Fair (2 years)

Consumer Advocacy Faces and Voices of Recovery, Science of

Addiction & Recovery (Train-the-Trainer)

Georgia Recovery Organizations for Wellness (GROW)

Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care Symposium

The Recovery Project

Consumer Advocacy The Recovery Project

Rally for Recovery – September 12th, NYCwww.therecoveryproject.com