The 2nd Annual Recovery Day, a program aimed at community education and support of those in recovery from drug addictions, will take place this Saturday, September 7 in Lebanon.
This year’s event will see skateboarder and actor Brandon Novak as the keynote speaker. Novak himself is in long-term recovery from a 21-year addiction to heroin that left him homeless at the age of 35. Following a series of treatment center visits, Novak began the journey to sobriety, and now shares his story with audiences interested in long-term recovery.
State Representative Frank Ryan (R-101), Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello, and Jennifer Smith, the Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, will be in attendance, along with over 30 vendors from around the state and county. These include mental health organizations, treatment centers, counseling agencies, and church groups. Around 500 attendees are expected this year, and the family-friendly event will include activities for children.
Read More: Progress made against opioids in Lebanon County, but no victory laps yet
Recovery Day will take place from 12:00pm to 4:00pm in Monument Park at 8th & Lehman Streets, and the event is free to the public. Anyone with an interest in learning about local resources and treatment possibilities for fighting drug addiction is encouraged to attend, along with family members, friends, and any others who wish to come.
The event is organized and hosted by Lebanon County Stronger Together, a heroin task force that seeks to educate the community on addiction, find and develop resources to treat the problem, and ultimately end drug-related deaths and crime in the county. “We want people to know that our community cares… treatment works and recovery is possible,” said pillar chair and RASE recovery specialist Mia Jones in a press release.
Are you or a loved one struggling with opioid abuse? Visit the state’s content resource and see a map of local treatment centers here.