Welcome to the first issue of Recovery Talk - Friends of Recovery - New York's new monthly e-newsletter developed to bring you the latest news about our efforts to change the conversation about addiction and recovery in New York State and ultimately, throughout the nation. More

Friends of Recovery - New York (FOR-NY) is committed to demonstrating the power of recovery. One of the ways we're doing that is by providing individuals and families living in recovery with language that helps them explain what recovery really is. More

Earlier this month, FOR-NY invited fifty families from across New York State to gather in Albany share their personal stories of recovery and loss from alcohol and drug addiction. It was the first such event that FOR-NY hosted with support from the Office of Alcohol and Substance Addiction (OASAS) and focused specifically on the impact of addiction and recovery on the family. Attendees courageously shared their incredible stories of heartache, hope and celebration with one another as individuals and families in various stages of addiction recovery. More

Since coming on aboard in late August, the FOR-NY team has been traveling throughout the state to participate in recovery-focused events, conferences and trainings, and to meet with local RCOs and RCCs. Here's just a sampling of where we've been.

FOR-NY Consultant, Nicole Carey along with LIRA President (and FOR-NY Board member) Richard Buchman at the 1st Annual Walk for Hope. Sponsored by Families In Support of Treatment (FIST), the walk was held in Farmingdale on August 30th and attracted nearly 1,000 participants.	FOR-NY paid a visit to our friends at FOR - Warren & Washington Counties in Glen's  Falls on September 1st.
FOR-NY co-sponsored a Capital District Recovery Talk: Community Listening Forum with members from the New York State Assembly's Minority Conference on Heroin Addiction & Community Response  at Hudson Valley Community College on September 28th. Approximately 85 people attended the event, which featured a Listening Panel of Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin; Assemblyman Joseph Giglio; Assemblyman Al Graf; Assemblyman Tedisco; Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan; Rensselaer County Sheriff's Department Pat Russo, Undersheriff; RAIS Chair, HVCC Liaison Brian Farr; Conifer Park Clinical Director Bill DeJoy; Rensselaer County Conflict Defender Sandra McCarthy (not pictured); and Young People in Recovery(YPR) member Brian Prinz from the Albany Chapter.	FOR-NY Board member Joseph Turner (second from the right) was featured as the Keynote Speaker at Celebrating Recovery in Brooklyn: The Transition 2015, hosted by the Brooklyn Community Recovery Center and the Brooklyn Recovery Group. From left to right: Ashley Straw, S.O.S. Leadership Development; Shawnee Benton-Gibson, Executive Director S.O.W. and Mistress of Ceremonies of the Event; Stephanie Campbell, Director of Policy (FOR-NY); Patricia A. Wooldridge, Director, Brooklyn Community Recovery Center; and Nicole Carey, Consultant (FOR-NY).

Serving both Nassau & Suffolk Counties, the Long Island Recovery Association (LIRA) is an active and robust Recovery Community Organization (RCO) that's truly making a difference. Click here to learn more.
 

Click here for a list of our Board of Directors & Staff -- each of whom will be introduced in future issues of Recovery Talk.
 

Click here for an overview of where we'll be in October.
 

Highlights of our activities to #UniteNYS at #UnitetoFaceAddiction rally coming next issue!