The 7th Annual Massachusetts Motorcycle Ride for Recovery Opening Ceremony

Mas The 7^th Annual Massachusetts Motorcycle Ride for Recovery

Nationwide, 4.3 million people aged 12 or older (1.7 percent of the population) received treatment for substance use disorders, and 30.2 million adults aged 18 or older received services for mental health problems, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. With the passage of health reform, all American's have the opportunity to access provisions within the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act (MHPAEA), aimed to improve physical and emotional health while ensuring people will receive the care they need at a more reasonable cost.

To further address the impact of health reform on prevention, treatment, and recovery, Massachusetts Organization for Recovery, Somerville Cares about Prevention, Everett Community Health Partnership, and Middlesex Human Services Agency will host a Motorcycle Ride for Recovery and Family Celebration kickoff on the Somerville City Hall grounds. This festivity  celebrates the ‘health’ of living in recovery, as it commences the ride to  Maynard, Massachusetts, where we will continue to celebrate the life of Bob Herne, a mentor to many in recovery. We have the music of The James Montgomery Band.  Our ceremony will provide the hope of recovery, and the power of prevention   . For those outside the recovery community, our forum  will stress the importance of helping a loved one in need, and educate individuals on a variety of prevention, treatment, and recovery options.

The forum is part of the 22^nd observance of National Recovery Month: Prevention Works, Treatment is Effective, People Recover (Recovery Month), sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Speakers in Somerville include

·          Ivette Torres, SAMHSA/CSAT/HHS Consumer Affairs Director

·          Cory Mashburn, Somerville Cares about Prevention Director

·          Adam Barret, Massachusetts Nurses Association on Addiction

·          Walter  DeGuglielmo,  staff, Senator Salvatore DiDomenico

·          Stephanie Almeida, Motorcycle Ride Cochair

·          Maryanne Frangules, MOAR, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, Executive Director

will address this year's theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Recovery Benefits Everyone." Their conversation will focus on the latest facts about substance use and mental disorder prevention and treatment, and the way recovery positively benefits one's overall health and well-being, and how family and community is involved in the recovery process.

WHO:          People in Recovery, Families, Friends, Policymakers 

WHEN:        Saturday, August 20^th, 2011

WHERE:     Somerville City Hall , Somerville, MA

                    93 Highland Ave, 9AM–11AM

                   Escorted Ride Leaves SHARP at 11:30 AM

                   12:30 PM Arrive at Maynard Sports Club, 45 Old Mill Road, Maynard, MA

                   1:30 PM Recovery Month Ceremony

CONTACT:   Maryanne Frangules, 617-423-6627 or 617-279-3395,  Email: Moarfran@aol.com