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ABC4 Utah: 2016 Recovery Rally at State Capitol
ABC4 Utah: 2016 Recovery Rally at State Capitol
By RANDALL CARLISLE | rcarlisle@good4utah.com
http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/recovery-rally-at-state-capitolSALT LAKE CITY(ABC4 Utah) Several hundred people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction and mental illness rallied Tuesday in the rotunda at the State Capitol.
Many of them came from treatment programs where they are learning how to live with their disease. Many have become productive members of society again as they celebrate their sobriety.
The goal of the Rally for Recovery is to let state lawmakers know that rehab programs work and need to be available to anyone seeking help, whether or not they have insurance.
Nearly 600 people die each year in Utah from drug and alcohol addiction. A number that could be greatly reduced if more treatment programs were available.
Becca has been sober for 8 years, but she lost a loved one to a heroin overdose. She says it didn’t have to happen. “I think if my loved one could have had these opportunities, his life could have been spared. He could have had another chance. He was a loving father, a brother, a friend. He worked in service in the community helping disadvantaged and he’s gone now. He doesn’t have that chance that so many other people deserve.”
Trevor is a single father of 3. He went through drug court and has been clean for 3 years, but he’s seen so many people die and says it doesn’t matter where you live. “I live in a small community in Kamas and in almost 8 months there’s been about 14 people I know, whether it’s been suicide, overdose or just mental illness and I’ve known everyone of them.”
Drug court also worked for Rusty who’s been sober for 3 years. He, too, has seen too many people die. “Back in Vernal we have a fish bowl filled with people that’s died from this disease that we have of addiction and mental illness. It’s a sad thing. It happens every day.”
Many uninsured addicts and alcoholics have to wait months to get into treatment. Rehab experts say that’s way too long. People will go back to drugging or drinking or they may die. They want lawmakers to pass some kind of Medicaid expansion so that treatment is available to anyone who wants it.
Copyright 2016 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
