Americans; featuring Patrick Kennedy, NBA Star Chris Herren, Actress Kristen Johnston
A feature film about the 23.5 million Americans living in long-term recovery and the emerging public recovery movement will be shown at Destiny International Ministries, 7061 Lemington Ave., Pittsburgh, on January 30 at 6:30 p.m. This film presentation is co-sponsored by Message Carriers of Pennsylvania and Destiny International Ministries. It features interviews with more than 30 people among the millions in long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction who are speaking publicly about their recovery.
They, and the film, question why the United States has criminalized and too often given superficial treatment to a chronic illness–addiction. As a result, addiction now comes with an annual price tag of $350 billion. The American approach has put most of the burden of long-term addiction treatment on anonymous, free, l2-step programs. Those programs have done a good job, but no other health problem is treated this way. The film’s producers set out to find the answer to one very fundamental question: Why don’t we treat addiction in this country like any other health issue?
The Anonymous People – Official Film Trailer from Greg Williams on Vimeo.
The Anonymous People shines a light on prominent people who are living publicly as people in long-term recovery themselves: Emmy winner actress Kristen Johnston, former NBA star Chris Herren, Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, former congressman Patrick Kennedy, veteran news anchor Laurie Dhue, Tom Coderre, chief of staff to Rhode Island Senate president, and many others. They have chosen to “come out” with their recovery in an effort to counter the existing public stigma toward people just like them.
This film aims at transforming public discourse in much the same way that activists once opened honest discussion about topics such as breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, and being gay in order to spark widespread social change. Following the film a panel of notables in the field will speak and answer audience questions.
The showing is FREE! However seating is limited. Reserve your seat by calling Message Carriers at 412-361-3145. They will accept donations to help continue their work to remove the stigma of addiction and show that long-term recovery is possible.
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