Administration Officials Meet With Innovators in the Recovery Field to Discuss the Value of Peer Recovery Support

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Gil Kerlikowske and Deputy Director A. Thomas McLellan hosted a discussion with experts in the field of addiction recovery. Co-sponsored with Faces & Voices of Recovery, this roundtable, focused on how peers can aid those in recovery from addiction, is part of the Obama Administration’s unprecedented effort to bring recovery into the center of drug policy discussions.

ONDCP recently launched a recovery agenda to actively engage the recovery community on a range of policy issues and to advocate for consideration of recovery in public policy and programming. The recovery-oriented agenda aims to help people live substance-free lives with good health, responsibility, nurturing relationships, self-sufficiency, and hope for a productive future.

“This effort goes beyond helping addicted people stop using illicit drugs and alcohol. Millions of Americans are already in recovery from substance abuse, and are now healthy, responsible and productive members of their communities,” said Kerlikowske. “Today’s meeting brings our Nation one step closer to expanding the hope of recovery to millions more.”

“Faces & Voices of Recovery was pleased to partner with ONDCP on today’s Recovery Roundtable and in the future to press for recovery-oriented policies in communities and the elimination of legislative and regulatory barriers to long-term recovery,” said Pat Taylor, Executive Director of Faces & Voices of Recovery. “ONDCP’s recovery agenda is identifying long overdue solutions that address addiction as the public health crisis that it is.”

Peer recovery support services are critical for people seeking to achieve or sustain long term recovery from addiction from alcohol or other drugs, and can include peer recovery coaches, resource coordinators, support groups, substance-free recreational activities, and recovery community centers. These services can be delivered effectively, regardless of whether or not a person uses clinical treatment services. Peer recovery support services provide an invaluable community network to both initiate and support recovery.