Stigma has long kept individuals living with substance use disorders in the shadows, but now, they are stepping into the spotlight and recovering out loud. This bold declaration was echoed at 2023’s Mobilize Recovery conference held in Washington, D.C., where hundreds of advocates gathered to push for support for those in recovery.
A Movement in the Making
Mobilize Recovery is more than just a bus tour—it’s a rally cry for change. The conference connects individuals in the recovery field, making them a visible, viable group advocating for political and social change. Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, a vocal advocate and person in recovery, emphasized the power of this movement, stating, “Stigma has kept us silent and in the shadows… While we can remain anonymous in our recovery, it doesn’t mean that we can’t be active citizens of our country and fight for our fellows who are dying, especially today at record numbers.”
New data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that nearly three-quarters of the over 29 million adult Americans who identify as having a substance use disorder are in recovery. This statistic underscores the importance of visibility and advocacy, as recovery is not only possible but prevalent.
Recovery in Action
One of the 2023 conference’s standout moments was announcing the Recovery Advocacy Project’s “Run for Recovery” program. This yearlong training initiative empowers people in recovery and their family members to run for city, local, statewide, and federal office. The program supported 15 candidates in 2024 who are either currently running for office, like Ryan Hampton, who is running for the State Assembly of Nevada, or aim to run in the coming months and years.
Courtney Gary-Allen, the organizing director of the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project, passionately stated, “We can no longer wait for other people to make good policy decisions for our community. Instead, we need to be the actual decision-makers.” Courtney sees “Run for Recovery” as a way to invest in the next generation of leadership.
The initiative of “Run for Recovery” was born out of a conversation Gary-Allen had with Cat Taylor, one of the Recovery Advocacy Project’s board members, where Cat shared with Gary-Allen that she always wanted to train people in recovery to run for office. And the rest is history. The program was born a few months later and held a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, August 14th for the inaugural class of “Run for Recovery”.
On the day of the graduation ceremony for the “Run for Recovery” class of 2024, Gary-Allen shared heartfelt message on her Facebook page: “Over the last year, I have been helping train a group of people in recovery and family members from across the country and political spectrum to run for local office and win. Today, they graduate this program! Some of them will run this year, some of them next, some of them may never run, but they will join campaigns, knock doors, and make calls. This has been one of my greatest honors of my life.” She emphasized the importance of recovery advocates taking seats of power and supporting others to do the same.
Building the Future of Recovery Advocacy
“Run for Recovery” is a nonpartisan program designed to teach concrete advocacy skills, drawing people from across the political spectrum. The curriculum was created by Sarah Hummell, who most notably worked on the dream team that helped bring President Obama to office. She now runs Retail Politics, which is rooted in the philosophy that politicians should directly talk to and interact with their supporters.
Courtney, who has been in recovery for almost a decade, is proud to see the bipartisan spirit with five Democrats, five Republicans, and five Independent candidates graduating from across the country. The goal is clear: to center recovery over party lines and push forward policies that address the opioid and substance use crisis affecting communities nationwide.
Gary-Allen believes that recovery advocates must be the decision-makers. “For over a decade, the recovery community has been fighting to get ourselves a seat at the table,” she said. “Run for Recovery builds on the movement of advocating as individuals and advocates. We are a strong voting bloc, and we need action from our elected officials. More than that, we’re also going to run for office.”
The Journey of Change
Gary-Allen has been a staunch advocate for years. And has seen the power of being an elected official in office, firsthand. Reflecting on her personal journey of going from advocate to becoming the Augusta, Maine At-Large City Councilor, she shared with us how her political career began, “I got a call to run for city council and felt compelled to run for a few reasons. It was a moment to give back to a community that has given so much to me and to serve as my amends for the harm I caused during my active addiction.” Winning by a landslide in 2020 and again in 2023, she now sees “Run for Recovery” as a way to invest in the next generation of leadership.
Achievements and Vision
Since taking office, Gary-Allen has secured $250,000 in federal funding to create Project Recovery, placing recovery coaches within fire departments to support people in crisis. She also led efforts to secure 100 units of affordable housing and advocated for pride crosswalks in her city.
Looking ahead, she envisions “Run for Recovery” as an inspiring wave of recovery advocates winning seats on school boards, city councils, and state legislatures across the country. She shared, “My dream is that we are going to take over local school boards and legislators across the country.” This program is part of a broader advocacy movement in the recovery community, and with its success, recovery advocates will continue to shape public policy for years to come.
The “Run for Recovery” Class of 2024 consists of: Ryan Hampton (NV-D), Amy Clark (ME-D), Kungu Njuguna (KY-D), Chandler Picot (NC-I), Laura Zakresky (NJ-R), Jaibez Regalado-Pro (TX-I), Joshua Rowland (OH-R), Thomas C. Higdon (MD-D), Cherrice Tanksley (FL-I), Racquel Garcia (CO-I), Brian Sims (FL-R), Marian Bacon (TN-D), Lisa Girard (CT-I), Stephan Taylor-Thompson (ID-R), and Robert Cooper (FL-R).
Members of the graduating class who are currently running for office includes: Ryan Hampton who is running for State Assembly in Nevada, Chandler Picot who is running for Commissioner At-Large for Silver City, NC, and Brian Sims who is running for County Commissioner in Monroe County, FL.
Join the Movement
Recovery is real, and it’s happening now. SAMHSA administrator Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon said, “We know people can recover. People do recover. They’re living full, happy, healthy, productive lives.” The “Run for Recovery” program showcases the power of community and advocacy in transforming lives and policies.
To learn more about “Run for Recovery” and to express your interest in being in the cohort for the class of 2025, visit recoveryvoices.com.
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
Call 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people in suicidal crisis or distress. You can learn more about its services here, including its guide on what to do if you see suicidal language on social media. You can also call that number to talk to someone about how you can help a person in crisis. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
For support outside of the US, a worldwide directory of resources and international hotlines is provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. You can also turn to Befrienders Worldwide.
Help is Available
If you or someone you love is living with substance use, alcohol misuse, a co-occurring, or a behavioral health disorder, there is hope. The Break Free Foundation aids individuals seeking recovery through the Break Free Scholarship Fund. It sends anyone who lacks the financial resources to attend a recovery center to do so at low to no cost.
Review our Treatment Locator Tool to find the right program near you, as well as our list of Hotlines and Helplines. Click here for a list of regional and national resources. On this road to recovery, no one is alone. We are all in this together.
