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Recovery Month 2008Join the Voices of Recovery: Real People. Real Recovery.Recovery Month events will take place in September 2008. Please check back soon for more information on NAPAFASA's Recovery Month events!
Past Recovery Month EventsRecovery Month 2007 |
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Recovery Month 2006 |
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For the sixth consecutive year, NAPAFASA served as a planning partner for the Centers for Substance Abuse Treatment’s (CSAT) annual Recovery Month program held in September 2006. Hands Across the State - Maile Beach Park, Oahu, HISeptember 16, 2006, 10:00AM Waianae Men in Recovery hosted a statewide observance in which participants held hands for one minute in silence out of respect for those in recovery and those who still suffer from addiction. Stories From the Heart - Houston, TXSeptember 27, 8:00am to September 29, 2006, 12:00am. Asian American Family Services presented "Stories from the Heart", a traveling exhibit which featured 3 heartfelt stories about the journey to recovery in different stages--Lost, Seek, and Hope. Educational material and recovery resources were also distributed. Recovery Celebration - Minneapolis, MNSeptember 23, 2006 In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in recovery and the acknowledgement that recovery impacts whole community, this resource fair helped AAPI families to create and sustain healthy and drug-free lives. This event featured speakers and resource booths for service providers and community members. Press Release About Event: For immediate release, FMI: Ange Hwang, 612-376-7715 Beyond Silence: Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Recovery Month Forum MINNEAPOLIS, MN - September 12, 2006 - In order to honor September as the "Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month", Asian Media Access (AMA), Center for Hmong Studies, and Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, come together to host an education event - Beyond Silence: Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Recovery Month Forum, on Saturday September 23, 2006, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., at Lao Cultural Center Building, 2648 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411. The Forum is free and open to the public - buffet lunch provided. The highlights of the Forum include: This one day educational event focuses first on providing valuable information on substance abuse prevention and treatment for the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community with a keynote address and health fair exhibition; and secondly, highlighting the recovery needs among the AAPI community with local experts and community leaders' panel discussions. According to reports by National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA), 60% of multi-racial AAPIs have used illicit substances, the second highest number for any racial group. This group also has the highest lifetime use for marijuana (55%), cocaine (21%), heroin (3.6%), LSD (14.1%), Ecstasy (8%), and several other drugs. A study by the Howard University Department of Psychology also indicates that substance abuse among Asian-American college students was higher than a "general" national sample, particularly for alcohol. Being born overseas, number of years in the U.S. and preference for American TV/movies are influencing factors in their substance abuse. Among adult Asian-Americans, Japanese-Americans have the highest lifetime prevalence of drinking and heavy drinking. Southeast Asians (e.g., Vietnamese) living in the United States appear to be at high risk for heavy drinking. Factors determining the drinking patterns of AAPIs include economic status, educational attainment, and degree of acculturation as well as drinking norms and alcohol availability. Among all the substances, according to both a report by the Sentencing Project and Mike Konashita of Asian American Recovery Services (AARS), Meth use is the "number one growing drug of choice among Asian American & Pacific Islanders". Among the reasons the subject has not yet received great national attention or in the Asian language media is the stigma attached to its use, and the fact that it is not a "young people's problem"... older Asian-Americans tend to be among the users. The reasons that the AAPI community abuse substances are many and varied. In many cases they feel a sense of isolation from the community in which they live and a great sense of cultural dislocation, and turn to alcohol or illicit substances in an attempt to ease the emotional pressure. Youth who are involved in violence or gang activity often find themselves in an environment in which these substances are readily available and their use is not just accepted but expected (peer pressure). Young people may be influenced by the example of a parent who abuses alcohol or illicit substances. According to Asian American Recovery Services, many of the women who make up an increasing number of AAPI meth abusers are motivated by pressure from their family to be successful, beautiful and thin. One of the most significant factors among youth is also low self-esteem: many use these substances to feel better about themselves, even through dangerous and artificial means. The one thing in common with all of these motives is that the user considers only the short-term effect and not the long-term consequences. Often time, Mr. Konashita indicates that among AAPI meth abusers, the actual substance abuse is a secondary problem, and that the main issue is a mental health one. "Without adequate culturally and linguistically appropriate therapy for the individual and the family, there can be no solution", he states. Although alcohol and other drug addiction has massive health, societal and economic costs; individuals can and do recover their lives from the illness of alcohol and other drug addiction and in recovery as vital members of our communities. The Forum can contribute a great deal to increase awareness about the Positive Impacts of Recovery, also the needs for more culturally and linguistically appropriate prevention, intervention and treatment programs for AAPIs. The Forum is sponsored by US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S (SAMHSA); Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) for Recovery Month; National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA), the White House Initiative on Asian America & Pacific Islanders; and the Chemical Health Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. For more information, please contact Ange Hwang at Asian Media Access at 612-376-7715, angehwang@amamedia.org and www.amamedia.org. Recovery Month 2005Join the Voices of Recovery: Healing Lives, Families & CommunityFor the fifth consecutive year, NAPAFASA served as a planning partner for the Centers for Substance Abuse Treatment’s (CSAT) annual Recovery Month program held in September 2005. Hands Across the State - Maili Beach Park, Oahu, HISeptember 4, 2005, 10:00AM - 6:00PM Waianae Men in Recovery hosted a statewide observance in which participants held hands for one minute in silence out of respect for those in recovery and those who still suffer from addiction. This took place at 12:00 noon PST in several different locations. Other activitiesl included outdoor sports, potluck, and speakers. 8th Annual Waianae Men and Keki Camp-out - Honolulu, HISeptember 30 - October 2, 2005 The tradition continued for Recovery Month in Hawaii. A three-day camp-out for Waianae Men In Recovery was held at Maili Beach Park at Waipahu. The focus was on building relationships between recovering men and their children. The event featured elected officials from the Senate and House of Representatives. "Road to Recovery" Photo Essay Exhibit - Houston, TXSeptember 22, 2005 This event was cancelled due to Hurricane Rita. Healing Asian American and Pacific Islander Lives, Families, and Communities - Los Angeles, CASeptember 8, 2005 6:00-7:30pm Evergreen Baptist Church Ministry Fellowship Hall 1255 San Gabriel Blvd Rosemead, CA 91770-4237 This was an opportunity for family and community members to come together to discuss the impact of substance abuse in the API community. A panel with law enforcement, service providers, recovering persons, and family members discussed the problems of substance abuse and the hope for those who recover from addiction.
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NAPAFASA Recovery Month 2005: In the News
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Click here to view the Proclamation for Recovery Month 2005
Hands Across the State, HI:
Click here to view the Hawaii Proclamation for Recovery Month 2005 Click here to download a PDF with pictures from the event
The following news story covered the event: KHON2- Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005 People recovering from drug and alcohol addiction came together islandwide Sunday to show their support for each other -- men, women and even children. Vince McCrocklin is an outgoing 16-year-old, involved in his community. It wasn't always this way; he's been an alcoholic since the age of 10. "As a young person in recovery, you know, a lot of kids are scared to step up and say stuff," he says. Today he's in recovery. He spoke at an event in Waianae to reach out to other addicts, and he'll soon be heading off to Chicago to do the same. "That's why I'm here, to speak and find that one person who is willing to listen to me," McCrocklin said. People in recovery -- and those thinking about it -- came together for an event called Hands Across the State. Some are new to sobriety. Others have seen it through longer. All want more people to benefit from the results. "I know the importance of recovery, I know recovery is real and just to acknowledge the effort it takes to get in recovery," said Bill Mousser of the group Waianae Men in Recovery. According to state drug control figures, about 9 percent of Hawaii adults -- more than 82,000 people -- need treatment for alcohol or drug use. About 7 percent of Hawaii's kids need it, too. Recovering addicts say this is an issue the whole community needs to care about. "Every time someone gets high, it's usually at the expense of others or someone else," Mousser said.
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Healing Asian American and Pacific Islander Lives, Families, and Communities -Los Angeles, CA:
Click here to view the Los Angeles Recovery Month Proclamation
Two articles about the event appeared in Chinese language newspapers:
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Recovery Month 2004Join the Voices of Recovery Now! | |||
The Asian American Family Counseling Center conducted the first community forum to raise awareness regarding substance abuse and its recovery in the API community in Houston. The event featured educational and research presentations, dinner, and resources for the public. Invited speakers were Dr. Ford Kuramoto, NAPAFASA; Dr. Alan Richard, The Center for Success and Independence; and Dr. Tuan Nguyen, MHMRA. Participants for the event included API service providers, community leaders, and others interested in addressing recovery in the API community. Invited officials included City Councilmember Gordon Quan, Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs and M.J. Khan.
Click on Houston Recovery Month for pictures.
This year’s main Recovery Month event was a three-day camp-out for Waianae Men in recovery. The camp-out was located at Maili Beach Park at Waipahu. The focus was on building relationships between recovering men and their children. The event featured elected officials from the Senate and House of Representatives. Waianae Men in Recovery partnered with the Honolulu Police Department and the clean and sober environment island wide to make this year’s activities a success. There was an estimated 400 people participating in this year's activities.
Click on Hawaii Recovery Month for pictures.
This is a "Twin Cities" Asian American and Pacific Islander event that has been held for several years. It features cultural, employment, funding, and health and human service resources with booths and speakers. There were about 3,000 participants for this event including Hmong and other Asian American and Pacific Islander families and community members. Lee Pao Xiong, Center for Hmong Studies, Concordia University and William Yang, Executive Director of Hmong American Partnership and other local officials attended the Fair.
Click on St. Paul Recovery Month for pictures.
The main AAPI Recovery Month event in Honolulu was a Drug Strategy Summit luncheon convened by Lt. Governor James Aiona on September 15th, 2003. Approximately 300 people attended the Drug Strategy Summit luncheon. The event was held in conjunction with the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii and was one of several Recovery Month events. Other Recovery Month events included a Recovery Camp Out and a Youth Summit on Ice (the street name for methamphetamines).
Staff at the Hamilton-Madison House planned and conducted a community forum on substance abuse in New York City’s Chinatown on September 12, 2003. There were 70 participants at the event. Key speakers included a representative of the New York State Legislature’s Drug Abuse Committee Chair, a New York City Councilman, representatives from the local alcohol and drug agency, and staff of other local elected officials.
The Asian American Recovery Services (AARS), Inc. organized and held a community celebration called “Understanding Brings Unity” on September 18, 2003. The event celebrated the success of recovery within the AAPI San Jose community and showcased the success of AARS’ adolescent clients’ completion of alcohol and substance abuse treatment. The event featured a community potluck, cultural entertainment, guest speakers and visits by local and state legislators.
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