Facing Addiction to Co-Host National Summit with U.S. Surgeon General to Mark the Release of the Historic First-Ever Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health

NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Facing Addiction, a national non-profit organization comprising the largest addiction stakeholder network in the country, announced today a November 17 national summit to release the first-ever Surgeon General's Report on the science behind preventing and treating substance misuse and addiction and supporting recovery from substance use disorders. The groundbreaking report, addressing the country's leading public health crisis, is entitled: Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health.  Facing Addiction is co-hosting this unprecedented convening as the co-sponsorship partner with the Office of the Surgeon General to mark the release of a report being compared to, in importance and long-term impact, the 1964 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health.

During the event, which will take place from 11am to 2pm PST, the United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, will co-host a live-streamed national summit that will feature conversations with some of the nation's leading experts on substance use, misuse and addiction. The Surgeon General will provide keynote remarks and guide an interactive discussion of the report. The participants will explore the state-of-the-science of addiction and discuss concrete steps that all of us can take to promote prevention, expand treatment and ensure that recovery is possible for everyone.

"Facing Addiction in America – A National Summit" will be a significant moment in the battle against the addiction crisis – now the second major cause of death in people under the age of 35 – as the release of the Surgeon General's Report will provide a full account of the current knowledge base surrounding the neurobiology of addiction, prevention, treatment, recovery, and the urgent need to integrate substance use disorder services into the health system. The event will unite the media, stakeholders in the addiction field, policy makers, and pop culture celebrities in an effort to move our national conversation forward on addiction.

"Addressing the addiction crisis in America will require seeing addiction as a chronic illness – not as a moral failing," said Murthy. "Addiction has been a challenge for a long time, but we finally have the opportunity and the tools to address it.  By bringing together researchers, treatment providers, policy makers and key influencers, this summit will help our country see that a united front is necessary to address a public health challenge of this magnitude."

"Facing Addiction in America – A National Summit" will take place at The Studios at Paramount in the historic Paramount Theater in Los Angeles.  It will be streamed live online at FacingAddiction.org along with many other media partners for those who wish to watch the program in real time.

"This national event is expected to jumpstart a productive national dialogue on specific ways we can begin to turn the tide on the addiction crisis, galvanize action on this difficult issue, and bring together the best and brightest to affect progress and save lives," said Jim Hood, Co-Founder and CEO of Facing Addiction. "With alcohol and other drug-related deaths taking more than 350 Americans from us each and every day and 20.8 million people currently struggling with substance use disorders, virtually every family in America is affected – this is the moment to share what we know and what we can do about it."

To watch the summit live on November 17 go to www.facingaddiction.org.

About Facing Addiction

Facing Addiction (www.facingaddiction.org) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to unifying the voice of the over 45 million Americans and their families directly impacted by addiction. Facing Addiction is bringing together the best resources in the field in order to reduce the human and social costs of addiction, every year, until this public health crisis is eliminated. The organization was launched in historic fashion on October 4^th, 2015 from the National Mall at the UNITE to Face Addiction Rally when for the first time tens of thousands of individuals joined together with major musicians, politicians, actors, athletes, models, journalists, and authors to end the collective silence surrounding addiction and recovery. 

Contact:
Tim Sullivan - 732-816-0239, [email protected]
Lanna Arki - 908-227-3313, [email protected]
Sandy Sirirat - 310-633-9448, [email protected]

SOURCE Facing Addiction

Related Links

https://www.facingaddiction.org