HAWAI`I LAUDED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY SERVICES
For Immediate Release: July 13, 2009
Federal agency cites successful outreach to people trying to conquer addiction
HONOLULU – Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. today expressed enthusiasm over Hawai‘i earning national recognition for the gains made by O‘ahu residents recovering from substance abuse through treatment and recovery support services that are the unseen hands behind people trying to conquer addiction.
The Access to Recovery (ATR) program in the Hawai‘i Department of Health - Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division was honored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its success over the past year in providing vital help to people on O‘ahu with substance abuse problems, Lt. Governor Aiona said.
More than 2,100 people with substance abuse problems have received help through Access to Recovery since the O‘ahu-based pilot project started in June 2008 for those trying to get a new start in life.
“Treatment and recovery from substance abuse is a difficult, often painful and expensive lifelong process, but it’s absolutely necessary to healing oneself, one’s family and one’s community,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “We hope to build on the pilot project’s record of success and offer the opportunity for recovery to more of our residents.”
Bernie Strand, project director for Access to Recovery, said that the national recognition is an important acknowledgement of partnerships built between treatment and support service providers in the community.
“Hawai‘i's success demonstrates that recovery from addiction to crystal meth is possible, and that the spiritual and cultural communities are essential partners with traditional treatment systems in this effort,” she said. “Families are reuniting, careers are being reclaimed, and hope is spreading to others who continue to suffer from addiction. What an exciting time it is to be working in a recovery oriented system of care.”
Rochelle Chambers, 41, of Punalu‘u on the North Shore, credited the pilot project for her being sober 50-plus days after a long bout with a methamphetamine addiction.
“I never sought treatment before,” said Chambers, an unemployed cosmetologist who learned about the pilot project through her church in March 2009. “The program has really helped me with my sobriety. If it wasn’t for the program, I would have probably been homeless, into prostitution and would not have a relationship with my grandson.”
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Travis Taylor
Communications Director
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
(808) 586-0283
Bernie Strand
Project Director
Access to Recovery
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Division, Hawai‘i Department of Health
(808) 692-7619
