Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Anchor Recovery Community Center will hold a series of public education events regarding addiction, overdose, and recovery.

In response to the recent rise in accidental overdose deaths in Rhode Island, the events will provide information on how to avoid addiction risks such a prescription painkillers, advocate for non-opioid medications with your physician, recognize the warning signs of addiction, obtain treatment, and maintain and support for those in long-term recovery.

“People need to understand that addiction is a disease, just like diabetes or high blood pressure,” said Jim Gillen Director of Anchor Recovery Community Center. “The alarming headlines we have all been reading are a loud and urgent wake-up call to every family in every town in Rhode Island. We hope our events will help people understand the disease of addiction, learn that recovery is possible, and that if you act fast you can save the life of someone overdosing.”

All events are free and open to the public:

Overdose Awareness Forum
Friday, March 21, Noon – 2:00 PM
Kent County YMCA, 900 Centerville Road.

The focus of this forum will be on supports and information for families of overdose victims. The emcee is NBC 10 anchorman Dan Jaehnig. Speakers include Representative Patricia Serpa (RI District 28); Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals Craig Stenning; Michelle McKenzie, MPH, The Miriam Hospital;Deborah Watterson and Elise Reynolds, parents of children lost to accidental overdose;Chris Fernier, a parole officer who lost his brother to accidental overdose; Brianna Brigidi, a young person in recovery, and representatives of GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing), a support group for those who have lost loved ones due to the disease of addiction.

Space is limited.  Please reserve a seat by e-mailing info@anchorrecovery.org or by calling the Kent County Y at 401-828-0130.

Overdose Prevention Forum
Friday, April 11, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Rhode Island College, Alger Hall

This forum will focus on steps individuals and community groups can take to help prevent accidental overdose death from prescription painkillers and heroin. The emcee is NBC10 health reporter Barbara Morse Silva.

Speakers committed to date include Robin Montvilo, RN, Ph.D., Director of the Chemical Dependency Addiction Studies program at Rhode Island College; Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals Craig Stenning; Sharon Morello, RN, The Providence Center; Rhode Island College student and Certified Recovery Coach Trainer Holly Cekala; Jim Gillen, Director of Anchor Recovery Community Center; and Michelle McKenzie, MPH, The Miriam Hospital. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Chemical Dependency CEUs are available with no fee.

Special Screening of “The Anonymous People” 
Saturday, April 12, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Kent County YMCA, 900 Centerville Road, Warwick, RI 

“The Anonymous People” is a groundbreaking documentary about the 23.5 million person recovery movement in the United States. In the words of filmmaker Greg Williams: “There’s a decent chance that someone in your life has the disease of addiction. Maybe that person is a member of your family, your best friend or a close work colleague. If you are lucky, maybe he or she is one of the approximately 23.5 million Americans in recovery today. Moving from the negative perception of addiction to the celebration of recovery is a long road, but one well worth traveling.”

As Williams has said, the movie aims to “inspire and radically shift how everyone responds to addiction. The movie is creating a tidal wave of awareness and engaging thousands of advocates to join the addiction recovery advocacy movement.”

Space is limited. Please reserve a seat by e-mailing info@anchorrecovery.org or by calling by calling the Kent County Y at 401-828-0130.

Anchor Recovery Community Centers are a program of The Providence Center. Serving more than 12,000 people a year, TPC is Rhode Island’s largest community mental health organization and operates with an annual budget of $44 million. The agency employs 650 staff.  Its services are provided statewide through 12 locations in Providence, Burrillville, Cranston, Pawtucket, and Warwick.