How Recovery Became a Key Player Again

The third annual Welsh Council on Alcohol and other Drugs lecture will be delivered by Phil Valentine, Executive Director for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), USA, on Tuesday 21st June at 6.30pm at the Pier Head, Cardiff Bay. The lecture, How Recovery Became a Key Player, will be hosted by Alun Ffred Jones AM and chaired by television personality Angharad Mair.

Phil Valentine has been an integral component in the recovery community organization since January 1999. An accomplished speaker and presenter, he has gained recognition as a strong leader in the recovery community; in 2006 the Johnson Institute recognized his efforts with an America Honors Recovery award. In 2008, Faces and Voices of Recovery honoured CCAR with the first Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community Award as the outstanding recovery community organization in the country.

In 2009, the Hartford Business Journal named him the Non-profit Executive of the Year. Currently, he is spearheading CCAR’s effort to build a statewide network of recovery community centres that feature innovative peer recovery support services like telephone recovery support, All-Recovery groups and Recovery Works! employment services.

In recent years, experts have recognised the need to change the way that people can be helped to overcome serious substance use problems. Recovery has become a guiding principle and society is beginning to learn from the many people who have recovered from addiction. A transformation of systems of care is underway, shifting away from systems based on pathology to ones that promote wellness and recovery.

The recovery model differs from the medical model, on which much of addiction treatment is currently based, in that it emphasizes empowerment of the person, the importance of peer support, and involvement of family members in helping the person find recovery.

Wynford Ellis Owen, Chief Executive of the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, said, “We are delighted Phil Valentine is able to come to Wales and deliver our third annual lecture. It’s a great opportunity to hear about the great strides being taken as part of the recovery movement in the USA, and which have had a great impact on the development of the 'Stafell Fyw Caerdydd/Living Room Cardiff.

“Whilst professional treatment can help people manage and even overcome serious substance use problems, the success of today’s treatment system is still limited. This is due in part to the fact that society uses an acute care model, whilst serious substance use problems are generally chronic in nature. As a result, whilst many people entering treatment may achieve a temporary psychosocial stabilization, they soon relapse after leaving treatment, in large part because of a lack of continuing support.

“The 'Stafell Fyw Caerdydd/Living Room Cardiff concept will revolutionize the treatment of alcohol and drug dependence and other addictive behaviours in Wales. The emphasis will be on recovery rather than simple addiction management.”

The new promotional film for the ‘Stafell Fyw Caerdydd-Living Room Cardiff initiative, which was produced by Betty Evans and directed by the BAFTA awarding winning director Rhys Powys, will be premiered during the evening.

Tickets for the lecture, which are free of charge, are available by contacting the Council at info@welshcouncil.org.uk.
ENDS

For further information please contact Rhodri Ellis Ow