Congressman David Trone Visits Addiction Treatment Center and Hosts Family Support Services Roundtable in Honor of National Recovery Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2021
Contact: Sloane Gallagher, Sloane.Gallagher@mail.house.gov
Congressman David Trone Visits Addiction Treatment Center and Hosts Family Support Services Roundtable in Honor of National Recovery Month
Rep. Trone with Panelists from the Family Support Services Roundtable
FREDERICK, MD — Yesterday, U.S. Congressman David Trone (MD-06) honored National Recovery Month by touring the Wells House at Gale Recovery and hosting a roundtable discussion with family members of those suffering from addiction. Recovery Month is designed to educate Americans about addiction and treatment options, and to stop the stigma surrounding substance use disorder. This year, the theme of Recovery Month is, “recovery is possible for everyone.”
“Recovery Month is about celebrating those who are in recovery, breaking down the barriers of addiction-related stigma, and letting everyone know that recovery is possible,” said Congressman Trone. “I reintroduced the Family Support Services for Addiction Act to equip individuals with the knowledge and guidance they need to support their loved ones. We are all in this fight together.”
Trone’s day focused on the importance of support systems and treatment programs, two aspects that help those suffering from addiction achieve recovery. The Wells House at Gale Recovery is a residential treatment facility that offers mental health services, substance use education, peer support, and a safe environment for those in treatment. The Family Support Services roundtable focused on sharing personal stories, discussing ways to alleviate stress and pain for families, and strategies people can use to support their loved ones in recovery.
In addition to Trone, participants of the roundtable included:
- Julie Merchant Wood, Director, Kids Like Us Program
- Jeffrey Thompson, Program Director, On the Mark Program
- Kelsea Kephart, Executive Director/Co-Founder, The Orenda Center
- Kim Sariano, Program Manager, Potomac Case Management
- Deb Reynolds, Constituent
- Philip Scolaro, Family & Integrated Services Director, Potomac Case Management
- Shannon Aleshire, CEO, Mental Health Association (MHA)
- Aje Hill, Founder, I Believe in Me, Inc.
Even though our community provides treatment options, families often don’t know where to start. We need to acknowledge the hardships families face when a loved one is suffering from addiction. And unfortunately, the stigma of addiction often leads families to feel like they have nowhere to turn for resources. Trone understands these challenges, which is why he introduced the Family Support Services for Addiction Act. The bill will establish a grant program for nonprofit organizations that provide support for families of individuals struggling with substance use disorder.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees in the 117th Congress and previously served on the Education and Labor and Foreign Affairs Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
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