Rockers In Recovery Festival Issue

concert edition

November 2013

Richie

Supa

Lifetime Achievement PLUS 25 Years of Recovery

2013 RIR Music Festival Change Your Life to Change Others' Reaching Out for Recovery Putting Well Back in Wellsville www.rockersinrecovery.org

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Info

Credits Publisher

Rockers In Recovery Radio Productions

Layout & Design Philip Salvagni philipsalvagni@gmail.com

Contributions by: Carol Harblin Academy for Addiction Professionals Reach Out Recovery Dareine Heller Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Cathleen Coppola CAP, MSW

Contact 954-826-4920 825 NE 12th Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 www.rockersinrecovery.org john@rockersinrecovery.org

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Rockers in Recovery Magazine

Contents

Articles 2013 RIR Music Festival.......................6 Change Your Life to Change Others'........................................8 It Takes a Sponsor to Get Things Done.................................... 10 Reaching Out for Recovery................ 14 NAADAC Annual Conference Promotes Advocacy.............................. 18 Fall Into Gratitude.................................. 20 Coppola's Corner................................... 22 Richie Supa: Lifetime Achievement Plus 25 Years of Recovery..........24 SAMHSA Joins Rockers In Recovery to Prevent Kids from Underage Drinking..................................................... 28 Putting Well Back in Wellsville.......... 32

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2013 RIR Music, Movie,

Articles

& Art Festival

"A Celebration Of Gratitude" November 2, 2013 - 1pm-11pm

Fort Lauderdale Venue: CB Smith Park 900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 Music All Day · 25 Arts and Crafts Exhibitors · Food Vendors · Recovery Merchandise Addiction Education · Evidenced Based Treatment Options · Veteran Information The new "Recovery Movie Pavilion 19" will be featuring 4 great recovery based movies throughout the day. Along with a water park that includes water slides and a tube ride, the park offers a large RV campground, a tennis complex, a family golfing center, and many other amenities.

To purchase tickets call 800-838-3006 Tickets $20.00 Master of Ceremony "Funny Man and Recovery Comedian" Steve Johnson 1:00pm - RIR Unplugged Richie Supa (Aerosmith), Kasim Sulton (Todd Rundgren), and Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett) and Lou Esposito (The Capris) 1:30pm - Elizabeth Edwards 2:00pm - Crush 3:00pm - Doug Hirsch (Lenny Kravitz) and friends 4:00pm - Fat Chance 5:00pm - Sooner or Later Band 6:00pm - Keep Coming Back Band 7:00pm - Jimmy Stowe & the Stowaways 8:00pm - Johnny B. and the Road Dogs

9:00Ppm - RIR All-Star Band - RIR Musical Director Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts), RIR Unplugged Director Richie Supa (Aerosmith), Kasim Sulton (Todd Rundgren and Utopia), Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge), Liberty Devitto (Billy Joel), and Christine Ohlman (SNL Band).

RIR Band Special Guest Recovery Supporters: Marge Raymond (ELO), David Shelley (Allman Brothers), Lou Esposito (The Capris) and more to be announced.

10:30pm - Closing Ceremonies - Count Down, Partners and Main Sponsors Share, RIR Anniversaries - Richie Supa (25 Years) Ricky Byrd (26 Years).

If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact Lori Sullivan at 954-826-4920 for more info.

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Articles

Change Your Life to Change Others’

By Academy for Addiction Professionals

T

here are very few industries that are as inclusive, broad and truly life changing as substance abuse. Those recovering from addiction and substance abuse have the opportunity to impact others using their own experiences and passions. Indeed, many recovering addicts, in the process of changing their lives, can help others fight through the lowest of lows and get back on their feet. By any measure, being able to use such a hardship to their advantage is personally fulfilling and immeasurably helpful to those around them.

Professionals in the substance abuse field place a significant emphasis on education and self-improvement. It is not only a way to hone their own skills and stay abreast of clinical trends, but it often yields improved treatments and outcomes. Educational programs like those at The Academy for Addiction Professionals have offered countless professionals and aspiring clinicians the opportunity to understand the roots of addiction, how it affects us and how it is treated. Taking that knowledge and context and applying it to their daily lives can often benefit them in the advancement of their careers.

While going back to school may seem like a daunting commitment of time and finances, there are several flexible programs for professionals and recovering addicts alike that can lessen the burden. A simple phone call is the first step in what may

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be a major move in your life and work. We hope that your career in the addiction field flourishes and we look forward to being a part of your development now and in the future.

The Academy for Addiction Professionals is a leading learning center for those treating substance abuse. As a Florida Certification Board Approved Education Provider, The Academy offers courses that meet or exceed FCB standards for Certified Addiction Professional (CAP), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) and Certified Behavioral Health technician (CBHT). In 2013, The Academy launched the certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) course. On-campus training is provided at two locations, Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach for added convenience. The Academy for Addiction Professionals also offers online courses for those interested in distance learning.

Professionals in the field will also benefit from comprehensive, flexible and engaging continuing education programs. These classes can be tailored to a facility’s particular needs and may be performed on site, reducing employee downtime and eliminating travel.

Please contact The Academy for Addiction Professionals at 877-465-2778 for more information or visit them online at www.addictionacademy.com. «

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It Takes a Sponsor to Get Things Done and offline learning to people who wish to have refresher classes and to those who desire to be in the recovery addiction field.

By Carol Harblin

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here has been a lot of work done months prior to the upcoming November 2nd, Rockers In Recovery festival. Just as this year’s festival will be celebrating gratitude for recovery, RIR itself will be celebrating this year’s sponsors for the festival. If it were not for Sunrise Detox, Academy for Addiction Professionals, and Rick Case Automotive Group, then RIR would not much to celebrate.

Just as recovering addicts require a sponsor to help them through their recovery journey, festivals, radio shows, and venues each need sponsors from steadfast community supporters.

The Academy for Addiction Professionals is an educational facility that promotes online

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“We value Rockers In Recovery as an organization and what it represents – that people can have fun at events and concerts without resorting to drugs and alcohol,” said Crystal Shlifer, Director of Business Development at Academy for Addiction Professionals.

Each of these three sponsors agrees that giving back to the community is important because it serves the recovery community in addition to creating awareness to the public by association and example.

It is important that recovery education and awareness reaches the masses because people who suffer through their addictions will know that recovery is an honorable

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and positive result. People need to know what their resources are and where to go.

Unfortunately, there are people who still believe that recovery is shameful, but that is not the case anymore; recovery and coping in effective and functional ways is more respectable and honorable.

“We hope that there will be more people who will see that there is hope and life after addiction,” said Ira Lezy, National Marketing Director at Sunrise Detox, “Recovery is bringing back your life and your memories again.”

Mr. Richie Supa has reached out into his community again by getting a hold of Rick Case Automotive. Mr. Supa has known Rick Case for several years and the automotive group had been inspired by his leading example and has contributed to many local businesses, including Rockers In Recovery, Inc. “Rockers In Recovery is very important and it is equally important to support local

businesses with money and time," said Stan Bostic, of Rick Case Automotive Group, “We fully support [RIR’s] mission, which is to spread the awareness of what recovery resources are around and that recovery is a great thing.”

Sunrise Detox, Rick Case Automotive Group, and Academy for Addiction Professionals will be at the November festival.

According to Mr. Bostic, it is just as important to give back to local businesses with your time as it is with your money. By actively participating at local events given by a business, we are actively advocating for the cause and reaching out with that support that is needed.

Physical, hands-on support is essential to getting things done. It takes a village to run a business. A business is there for the community, so it is essential for the community to step forward and show their gratitude for that business. «

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Articles

Reaching Out

for Recovery

By Reach Out Recovery

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hen I was a young party girl lost in addiction, all I wanted to do was hang out with rock stars. I’ve been obsessed with music and musicians since I knew what they were.

I love music. Almost as much as I love movies. Music has gotten me through the toughest times in my life, the death of friends and boyfriends, a decade of battling my addiction issues, family woes, friend woes, and even a divorce. Music means the world to me. But of course when I was using, I never hung out with rock stars. Inevitably my party runs would end with me alone, cowering in the corner of a dark room, praying for it to end. In sobriety I’ve had the immeasurable pleasure of meeting rock stars, interviewing rock stars, and dare I say it, hanging out with them. Occasionally.

This week we traveled to Fort Lauderdale to make a video of Ron Tannebaum and Kenny Pomerance, co-founders of In The Rooms, to follow the Reach Out Recovery (ROR) Spotlight on them. The day we arrived we met at the ITR office to plan the shoot, and I asked Kenny and RT who we might interview to tell the In The Rooms story.

Immediately the two cheerful recovery mavens picked up their phones and started calling people. “How about Richie Supa?”

Ron asked. My ears pricked and I nodded vigorously, too nervous to speak and let my enthusiasm betray me. Richie Supa Co-Founder of Rockers In Recovery is a musician and songwriter. He’s written some of Aerosmith’s, Bon Jovi’s, Pink’s and many others’ biggest hits. He also stepped

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in when Aerosmith’s, Joe Perry, briefly quit the band. Richie said yes to the interview, and that night I got a text telling us to meet them at Richie’s house with the crew at 10AM the next morning. They sent Richie’s address to me. WTF? Is this for real? It was.

At 10 AM we all showed up at Richie’s house. And then with the cameras rolling, he talked about his recovery, music, and friendship with RT and Kenny. He told us about writing the In The Rooms song, which earned a Prism award. Then things got intense. He told how he was inspired to write music about recovery with the Amazing song for Aerosmith. He had heard a girl in early recovery say something that he liked, then he called Steven Tyler on the phone in California and Steven said something he liked and the first two lines were born. As he was talking, Richie Supa sat at his piano. Suddenly he started playing Amazing for us. I cried. But I didn’t let anyone see. In fact, we all cried, even the crew.

As we did the interview, and I listened to Richie play, it occurred to me that I never met any rock stars when I was partying.

But in sobriety, and as a recovery advocate, I’d met a lot. And more, many of them had played for me. Over the next few hours we met the In The Rooms wives. RT’s wife, Philly T, who is as beautiful as she is spiritual with the presence and aura only a Kundalini yoga instructor can possess. And a home so delightful and calm I wanted to stay. And Ken’s wife, Jamie, also beautiful and spiritual. What else could they be: the wives are best friends. Jamie told us about how she and Ken met, and how he proposed seven weeks later in a handsome carriage in NYC. I felt a kindred spirit with

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Jamie as she talked about her past, and if I weren’t 30-something I might have asked her to adopt me. I bet she gets that all the time. She’s a pre-school teacher. But I wanted to be adopted by Philly, too, when we joined her Friday class.

realized. I heard one of the greatest songwriters of his generation perform a song that had meant the world to me at some very tough times. I spent time with

We met and interviewed RT's friend and protégé, Tony, a nice Jewish boy originally from Canada who overcame his addictions and decided to follow his passion, ice cream.

He started a handcrafted gelato bars food truck, Hip Pops. He gave us all samples.

Absolutely to die for. I too share a passion for ice cream. richie supa with aerosmith We met RT’s son, Jake, a handsome, wholesome fellow who was off to work in the truck with Tony.

RT and Kenny and their families and friends And then Marc, another long-time friend and got to see that recovery really can give of Ken and RT’s, who was the first person you everything, true love, happy marriages, to chair one of the In The Rooms online beautiful children, authentic joy, and lasting meetings. Marc has that dry humor that friendships--things I didn’t think were is my favorite, and after bonding over this possible for people like us. And, with the and that, he gave me his daughter’s info so footage we shot, I’m going to get to do what I could contact her. She’s a writer living in I love best, take other people’s stories and NY. At a decade behind me, she might be turn them into something visual, something inclined to listen to my writer’s experience. beautiful. There’s so much in this world that Or not.

I find very hard to understand that when something happens to open my heart, At the end of two days I was sad to go.

I want to share it. Thank you to RT and The ITR crowd is an especially warm and Kenny, not just for creating an online world welcoming group. A tight-knit group. A that helps so many all over the world, but loving group. RT and Kenny allowed us into for proving that if you do the right thing and their private space, gave us a tour of the help other people, you will get everything office, told their stories, let us interview back. And by everything I mean love, family their wives, and the available son. Everyone and happiness. we interviewed got emotional talking about them—what they’ve done for themselves, Reach Out Recovery will be doing a their families and the world of people in documentary film on Richie Supa and recovery who desperately need to feel that Rockers In Recovery at the 2013 RIR Music, they are not alone. I got emotional, too. I Art, and Film Festival. Filming will begin the guess the message is when I was an addict I week of the fest with interviews of RIR could dream, but I couldn’t achieve. Now, as supporters, RIR Founders Richie Supa, Lori a person who works hard for my recovery, Sullivan, and Ricky Byrd. The documentary I don’t dream impossible dreams as much will also feature RIR All Star Band and their and show up more often. And when I show special guests, along with bands performing up the most amazing things happen. at the festival. Visit www.rockersinrecovery. org or ww.reachoutrecovery.com for more On this shoot some of my dreams were information on the festival. « www.rockersinrecovery.org

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Articles

NAADAC Annual Conference Promotes Advocacy

By Carol Harblin

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he NAADAC Association for Addiction Professionals will be in Atlanta, Georgia for their annual conference on October 11 through the 14th, 2013. What makes this conference even more notable is that Rich Supa, from the RIR All-Star band and RIR Unplugged, will also be in attendance.

NAADAC's Mission is “to lead, unify and empower addiction focused professionals to achieve excellence through education, advocacy, knowledge, standards of practice, ethics, and professional development and research.”

During the first evening at the conference reception and the opening day that following morning, Mr. Supa will be playing a few of his songs and sharing his story.

“People who have been in the public eye and then to share their recovery story is very inspiring and it is vital for people’s heroes in the entertainment industry to step forward [in recovery],” said Cynthia Moreno-Tuohy, Executive Director at NAADAC. Also on the first day of the conference, one of the training seminars they will be having is about the Affordable Healthcare Act as well. NAADAC is an organization that helps support professionals working in the addiction 18

field and also helps to further their education.

NAADAC also offers certification classes to help people attain their certifications in addition to the recertification classes.

NAADAC urges its members to help advocate and take action within their own communities. On the second day of the conference, Mr. Supa will be speaking with the Political Action Committee as part of NAADAC about how advocating for people who are in need of treatment is important.

According to NAADAC Political Action Committee, it supports members of Congress who either have a proven record of commitment on our issues or are in a position to effect positive change. The PAC is unique advocacy tools that enable NAADAC to build relationships with members of Congress who can champion our issues and ensure that candidates who support addiction professionals are re-elected.

For further information about becoming a member with NAADAC, or if interested in attending the conference or obtaining certification, please refer to our wesbsite, www.naadac.org. «

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Articles

Fall Into

Gratitude

By Carol Harblin

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ood, games, music, movies, art and culture–together for a rockin’ day of events, considered the new millennium's version of a sober Woodstock, brought to you by Rockers In Recovery. RIR has been diligently working to put together a “Celebration of Gratitude,” November 2, 2013 at C.B. Smith Park, Pembroke Pines, Florida. This fall festival has not just been a RIR project; it has been a community effort with many other people and organizations helping to prove that it takes a village to get worthy causes completed.

Rockers In Recovery’s message to all, whether recovered or not, is that life and fun still exists post-drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and drugs does not make rock-and-roll fun; music and friends being together makes it fun.

“The celebration of gratitude is a way of stepping forward in recovery to show people that we can all have fun even while experiencing serious issues in addiction,” said John Hollis, Director of Rockers In Recovery, Inc. A whole day and night with music, food,

art, films, comedy, children’s crafts, and friends – all while in a safe chemical-free environment. The RIR All-Star band, RIR Unplugged, Elizabeth Edwards, Fat Chance, and Keep Coming Back are just some of the music groups who will be playing throughout the day.

Reach Out Recovery is hosting the film corner of the festival. A few films titled, “The Secret World of Recovery” and “The Silent Majority” are just two of many that will be showing at the festival. The Master of Ceremony at the festival is Steve Johnson, “Funny Man & Recovery Comedian.”

The November festival, “A Celebration of Gratitude” is an all day event from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. People may purchase tickets online at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/396857. All net proceeds will be going toward people in need of treatment.

Donations are $20 per person.

Sponsors of “A Celebration of Gratitude” fall festival are Rick Case Automotive Group, Sunrise Detox, and Academy for Addiction Professionals. Like in any addiction, the absence of support and sponsors make it an even more arduous journey. Rockers In Recovery is full of gratitude for their sponsored support. «

2012 music fest at c.b. smith park

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Coppola's Appreciation & Humility

Corner

By Cathleen Coppola CAP, MSW

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n honor of the upcoming RIR festival, “A Celebration of Gratitude,” I thought it appropriate to write about appreciation and humility.

Some of you may be wondering what appreciation and humility have to do with gratitude. If you read my previous article, “Gratitude Is Not Simply a Word,” you know that you have to have both of these qualities in order to be truly grateful. If you haven’t read the previous article, no worries, and even if you have, I hope this will give you something to reflect on.

Appreciation, a form of gratitude, is such an amazing and beautiful thing. It is a very precious gift many people misunderstand.

Many of us mistake appreciation for politeness. Saying “Thank you,” and “I appreciate it,” are words said often automatically and without feeling because it would be rude to do otherwise. Many of us only say thank you with feeling when someone does something really big for us like loan us money or go out of their way for us in some fashion. What we are neglecting to notice and appreciate are all those “little” things that people do that are kind and special. The things some people do because it’s who they are, not because we ask them to. These very special people go unnoticed and unappreciated too often. It’s time to start letting them know how much of a difference they make in our lives.

In order to begin to see the individuals I’m writing about we must first humble ourselves. It’s time to realize that the world does not owe us anything; nor does anyone 22

else (I was disappointed to discover this too). It is time to shed off that sense of entitlement. Stop thinking that you’re better than anyone else regardless of how many years of sobriety you have acquired, what your job title is, or how much money you make. If you have degrees and credentials, congratulations; that doesn’t mean that you know everything and have nothing else to learn. No one is ever “better” than anyone else and no one “knows it all.” If you identify with any of this, please take a moment. This is not being written to offend or attack anyone. Maybe if this is sparking something within, you are just due for a personal and spiritual tune-up. If you are caught up in yourself, how can you see the beauty around you?

Now that we are humble (or at least have the idea), we can move on to the beautiful and positive. There is a difference in asking someone to do something in which a “thank you” is expected from both sides or a person who does kind things because they expect gratitude, and someone who goes about their daily lives and has no idea that they are even being kind, compassionate, or loving because they make no effort to do so; they are these things and that is amazing and beautiful. This is a person you may not even really know but lights up a room whenever they walk into it, a friend who is always there to give a shoulder to cry on and you know will always listen without judgment, a significant other who knows you like no other and loves you for all that you are including your faults, an employee at a store who sees that you need assistance without you asking and comes to your aid, a mentor, sponsor, supervisor or professor, or anyone that has ever told you something at just the right moment, believed in you,

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given you guidance and encouragement... let them know they make a difference. Let anyone who has had any positive affect on your life, big or small, know. This is how you spread joy, love, peace and appreciation.

It is amazing and beautiful that you will now see these special individuals. What is even more precious is the gift that you can give them. By taking just a moment to tell them how special they are and letting some of their sunshine in to your own heart. You may make someone’s difficult day a bit better and spread some of your own sunshine.

things. This is the time to start to point out the beautiful things in each other. Spread the appreciation, spread the smiles, spread the sunshine and celebrate the gratitude. ÂŤ Send Questions to Cathleen Coppola, at cathleen.coppola@ymail.com

Please take a moment and write a list of all the amazing people who have made a difference in your life, big or small. We spend too much time pointing out negative

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MARK STEIN

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Articles

Lifetime Achievement Plus 25 Years of Recovery

By Carol Harblin The man behind the guitar and under that hat with that infectious smile playing in the Rockers In Recovery All-Star band is, Richard “Richie” Supa. Mr. Supa won’t deny how much music has played such an integral role in his life; it is part of his past, present and future, but his dreams don’t stop there.

Music has been the foundation of his life through all the pain and glory he has endured; he has been stepping outside of the limelight toward the direction of community support. What makes a good candidate for a Lifetime Achievement award? It is a person who reaches the

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stars and keeps on going – that is Richie Supa. Mr. Supa is committed to helping and reaching out to the community to raise awareness about recovery.

“Whatever I do, I do it from my heart without expecting any accolades,” Mr. Supa said, “Receiving the award was very humbling experience.”

In general, the main message from Rockers In Recovery is that people can still have fun and “rock on” while staying drug-free. Mr. Supa lives out this message in all that he does in life.

The person who has been a steadfast friend and brother through Mr. Supa’s life is Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler. Both have created

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songs together as well as tears and laughter. According to Mr. Supa, the signature song that defines both his and Mr. Tyler’s brotherhood and friendship is “Amazing,” because of all the struggles and triumphs their friendship has endured.

“We want to create a celebration of recovery and show we can still go out and rock and have a good time while staying sober,” said Mr. Supa, “[Recovery is] the result of positive thinking.”

Rockers in recovery all-star band

November 2, 2013, RIR is holding another fall festival, the “Celebration of Gratitude,” where the RIR All-Star band

benefits of helping people and advocating for those in need of treatment during the Political Action Committee reception on the second day.

Mr. Supa is also Director of RIR Unplugged.

He tours around the country to various rehabilitation and treatment facilities playing with the RIR Unplugged band. Just prior to this summer 2013, they played at Sunrise Detox.

“Playing with RIR is more therapeutic than work; it’s like sharing at a meeting through music,” said Mr. Supa.

richie supa on stage with steven tyler and aersosmith.

will also be taking the stage. Mr. Supa has played a vital role in the collaboration of the festival.

Not only is Mr. Supa part of the festival, but he also is a special guest at the NAADAC Association For Addiction Professionals conference in Atlanta, Georgia this October 2013. He will be playing a few of his songs the first evening at the reception, as well as opening day of the conference. In addition to singing a few songs, he will also be sharing his story and speaking out regarding the

This October, the celebrations and journey continues for Mr. Supa as he will be commemorating his 25th year in recovery.

According to Mr. Supa, p o s i t i v e thinking is the key to success in recovery. «

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SAMHSA Joins Rockers In Recovery to Prevent Kids from Underage Drinking

By SAMHSA

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ecently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) partnered with Rockers in Recovery on a new underage drinking prevention effort called, “Talk. They Hear You.” This important campaign equips parents and caregivers with the tools and confidence they need to start talking to their kids early—as early as 9 years old—about the dangers of alcohol.

You may be thinking that 9 is too early to have “the talk” about alcohol. But research tells us that while most 6 year-olds know alcohol is only for adults, between the ages of 9 and 13 children start to think alcohol is OK. Some even start to experiment. It’s never too early to make sure your children know about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

With 18 million Americans diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder, Alcoholism is a disease that not only impacts an individual’s life, but those closest to them too— especially children . Children of alcoholics are between 4 and 10 times more likely to begin drinking at a young age and develop substance abuse issues later in life. , But there is good news, when parents know about underage alcohol use, they can help their kids avoid it.

Discuss what your child would say if someone did offer them a drink, and together, come up with excuses they can use in front of their friends. Something like: “my mom would ground me forever if she even smelled alcohol on my breath” or “I can’t go to the party, I have to go home and clean my room, my dad’s riding me about chores.”

Also, ask them about their reasons for not drinking. They may have athletic or academic goals that could be jeopardized if they drank, or a girl or boy they like might not like the smell of alcohol. Don’t lecture your child but do make it clear that you disapprove of, and forbid, underage drinking. This kind of ongoing dialogue can show your child that you’re an informed parent and a safe person to talk with about alcohol.

Want to practice this conversation before doing it in real life? SAMHSA’s developing an online parent tool, out this fall, that gives parent a chance to do just that. To check out a demo and learn more about ways to talk to your kids about alcohol, www.visitunderagedrinking.samhsa.gov

So how do you start talking about alcohol?

Find natural openings to bring up the topic with your child, like during dinner, chores, or in the car. Ask your kids about their thoughts on alcohol and what they might do if someone offered them a drink.

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Putting Well Back in Wellsville

By Carol Harblin

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quaint mid-west village in Ohio, nestled near Pennsylvania and south of the Great Lakes. It sounds like a beautiful place to live and grow up, but in light of recent events within the past year, it is anything but pleasant.

Within one year, the population has declined by more than 200 people bringing the village population down to 3,200. In 2000, there were over 4,000 people in the village. From the years 2000 to 2013, the village of Wellsville lost over 900 people.

There have been eleven drug overdose deaths already within this year.

Enough already, right? That is exactly what one local group from Wellsville is saying. The local group is called “Enough Is Enough” and their goal is to save lives and keep their community safe.

“We are here for the addict[s] and we want the dealers gone and our town back,” said Barbara Recek, the spokesperson for Enough Is Enough.

Enough Is Enough is a group of concerned citizens who want to put wellness back into Wellsville. Recently, in June, they band together and held a march against drugs by saying they were not backing down anymore. Their second march took place on August 28, 2013.

Ironically, on the eve of the first march, there was an overdose death that 32

was found in Independence Square in Wellsville. Recently, a bar where the drug dealers always frequented had also been shut down, but that had not stopped the drug dealings. The drug exchanges and shootings still occur in broad daylight and very near to an elementary school.

“The addict is worth saving because life is precious and every life has a purpose,” said Mrs. Recek.

Enough Is Enough has been trying to raise money through yard sales, raffles, and activities, in hopes to send someone to rehab, but have not yet raised enough money at this time. The group has a Facebook page called David’s Palace, which has posts for drug hotlines and even narcotic anonymous meetings.

There are photos from the June march posted on this page as well. David’s Palace is under the category musician/band. The page has regular posts to keep people aware and informed.

Both, David’s Palace and Enough Is Enough, hope to get more supporters and even to have other chapters for Enough Is Enough in other states. Their message is to increase awareness and to spread hope to people.

Enough Is Enough continues to plan future fund raising events to help grow awareness and wellness in Wellsville, OH. Mrs. Barbara Recek can be reached at b.joy42@hotmail.com for further information about future events with Enough Is Enough and how you can get involved in the fight against drugs. «

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