HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Partnership for a Drug-Free Community hosted its 4th annual recovery resource fair.
At least 20 local organizations were on hand providing information on substance use treatment options and other recovery resources.
September is National Recovery Month. Mayor Tommy Battle recently issued a proclamation recognizing September as Recovery Month here in Huntsville too.
RELATED: "End Addiction" walk in Huntsville honors those lost and provides resources for those struggling.
The guest speaker at this Recovery Resource Fair was David Battle, whose celebrating 26 years of recovery, here's what he had to say about what this recognition means for the recovery community.
"It says volumes and it gives us an opportunity to hear a voice within the community that says, 'Look, this is important in my city. We need to highlight this.' People are recovering and it does make a difference because recovery, it affects the whole family just like active addiction affects the whole family and it takes away from the family and the community. But when you get the healing going with recovery, it heals the community and heals a family at every level," said Battle, who celebrates 26 years in recovery.
He was a high school and college football standout until a knee injury ended his playing career at Auburn. His subsequent involvement with illegal drugs and addiction led to two sentences in prison – where he also was inspired to change. Since then, he’s earned four college degrees. Now he works in the substance use field, helping others find and maintain sobriety.
Partnership for a Drug-Free Community says that letting people know there are resources available to help and that people can and do change their lives makes a big difference in the opioid and fentanyl epidemics.