Blurred Picture, But a Crystal Clear Message

I am sure it’s not everyday that the Governor of Alabama Bob Riley has someone come up to him and introduce them self as an alcoholic, but that is just what I did today. It was a chance meeting, my little nephew was having a birthday party at a public entertainment center and the Governor showed up attending another event. I had made a pledge earlier this month to personally raise the awareness of those around me that September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and this opportunity was just to good to pass up.

As I explained that I was a blogger called The Discovering Alcoholic my brother snapped a picture that as you can tell came out very blurry. It may be hard to discern who is who in the photo, but my message on the importance of Recovery Month was crystal clear.

What really made my day was the response I got:

I know how important it is, I have dealt with it in my own family. Tell me how I can help.

I told him I would tell him, in writing, and then I shook his hand and left him so he could continue with his own affairs. Reflecting on what he said when I introduced myself as an alcoholic; I already know what kind of written request I will send. It will be that I would like to see the state’s substance abuse services division do more to raise the general public’s awareness of the human and financial costs of drug and alcohol addiction. To reduce the stigma of addictions, so that those who need help will seek it and those that don’t understand will have the opportunity to learn from the facts. So when the subject of funding treatment, alternative sentencing, or medically assisted recovery is raised in the public arena, people will say exactly what the Governor has already said, “I know how important this is, how can I help?”