copyright John Clement Photography

Drug addiction is a growing epidemic across the country in all communities, including Tri-Cities.

OUR MISSION
Partner within WA to advocate for recovery and treatment opportunities; educate to destigmatize the disease of addiction and reduce barriers to recovery for people suffering from Substance Use Disorder.

OUR VISION
Make Recovery the New Epidemic!


Our Wonderful, Highly Successful Leap to Recovery Breakfast


Thank You

Thanks to all who helped make our first-ever "Leap to Recovery" breakfast an outstanding success. We had nearly 350 guests, and there was a strong, shared commitment in the room to help build the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery.

A special thanks goes out to all of our sponsors:

Gold ($5,000): Bouten Construction, Central Washington Building and Trades Council, Comprehensive Healthcare, NAC Architecture, Kadlec Medical Center, Washington River Protection Solutions, and the Norm and Shirley Miller Family

Silver ($2,500): Advanced Protection Services, Bechtel National, Cornerstone Wealth Strategies, First Step Community Counseling Services, McCurley Mazda, Flynn Merriman McKennon, Gordon and Kathy Beecher, Mike and Nancy Roach

This event clearly demonstrated the broad support for the Recovery Center in our community and provided funding for projects that will help make the Center a world-class facility.

Thanks to all who sponsored, attended and donated to the "Leap to Recovery" breakfast. This event is the first of many that will help advance our mission and strengthen our partnership with Benton County and all who support this effort, as together we establish the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery.

Coalition’s Annual Report for 2023 

(please click on photo above to view full report)

10-POINT PLAN
How You Can Support Recovery and Fight the Addiction Epidemic

1. Start with your own medicine cabinet.
Dispose of unused medications at police and pharmacy drop-off boxes. Lock medications in safes or lock-boxes.

2. Talk with your own doctor.
Ask for non-addictive medications, refuse opiate medications or accept the smallest amount possible for the shortest time period, and tell your doctor why.

3. Educate yourself about recovery from the disease of addiction.
Information is readily available (websites, books, articles) and you can understand it. Don’t judge people who have this disease or their family members. Causes of addiction are multi-faceted. Addiction can affect anyone. Addiction is not shameful.

4. Learn to use Naloxone and carry it if you have a loved one with an opioid addiction. Naloxone saves lives.

5. Partner with law enforcement.
Support vigorous prosecution of major drug dealers and diversion programs for addicted people who commit minor offenses and agree to treatment. If you know of drug dealing activity, notify law enforcement. It could save a life.

6. Speak up to politicians.
Demand funding for detox and inpatient facilities, recovery programs, prescribing limits and mandatory reporting of all overdoses.

7. Speak up to local hospitals.
Insist that hospitals offer drug and alcohol clinics and that overdose patients be admitted for at least a 72-hour stabilization period, rather than discharged as soon as they are conscious.

8. For employers.
Support recovery through work re-entry programs. Don’t sponsor company events centered around alcohol (turn “free beer night” into “free beverage night.”)

9. For school personnel.
Educate our youth. Invite people in long-term recovery to speak to students about addiction. A personal story can have a powerful and lasting impact.

10. Support a community effort to establish a Tri-Cities Recovery Center, similar to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center.
Our community deserves a place for individuals who are suffering from the disease of addiction and are seeking short-term medical and social interventions to enter recovery.

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