Wow! $5 Million in relief services for primary treatment.

National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) to Allocate Over $5 Million to Help Support Addiction Crisis From Hurricane Katrina

The collaboration with the private treatment community in an effort to connect immediate need with immediate treatment services supporting recovery was announced in this press release today by our friends at NAATP. I personally thank all the memberes of NAATP, most especially Caron and Betty Ford, for their help in this relief effort, totally impossible without their immediate response to our requests for help down here. I also wish to thank the thousands of friends/people in recovery/supporting recovery and the needs of those in hurricane impacted areas. The overwhelming outreach and support reminds us that we truly are not alone, and their is hope for all of us!! Dr. Al Mooney responded with an effort to come down to Louisiana and set up a much needed detox effort, as waiting lists were long and he has dozens of years in working with alcoholics/addicts in need of medical support during detox. This effort totally grassroots is a miracle for those in need and was organized with little more than good will of many people to take real action to reach real people without delay. Again--to all working with us, volunteering, and passing on resources, we thank you!!! More updates in days to come!

NEW YORK, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of AddictionTreatment Providers (NAATP) announced a relief effort valued at over $5million to provide primary inpatient beds and addiction treatment for thethousands of victims of Hurricane Katrina. Many victims who are facingwithdrawal or are in need of ongoing treatment services are in shelters wherethere are no facilities and do not have resources available to them. NAATP will coordinate the relief effort with HopeNetworks.org, agrassroots organization founded in Louisiana in 2002, networks people andorganizations for action to reduce the impact of addiction on communities.HopeNetworks is known for mobilizing efforts for Louisiana addiction recoverypolicy efforts, rallies, and outreach and education in local areas across thestate. According to Samantha Hope Atkins, Executive Director and Founder ofHopeNetworks.org, "We are in a state of emergency in terms of gettingtreatment help to thousands of people in shelters throughout Louisiana. Priorto Hurricane Katrina, there were only 32 Detox beds available for a populationof 4 million people. Today, there are less than 10 available to serve thosewho are suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms and do not have access totreatment and counseling from the shelters. In Louisiana currently 99% of alltreatment services are currently federally or state-funded and given themagnitude of the Katrina crisis there is a need for new funding help asfederal resources are stretched." NAATP's President and CEO, Dr. Ronald J. Hunsicker, stated, "When a crisisof this magnitude hits, and there is no funding available, it's critical forthe private sector to take action. I am proud that so many of the privatetreatment centers like Caron Foundation, Betty Ford Center, and others havecome forward to donate over 100 treatment beds and airfare amounting toseveral million dollars of life saving alcohol and drug inpatient treatment aswell as potential longer term treatment to the victims of this disaster. Any treatment centers wishing to become part of this initiative should logonto http://www.hopenetworks.org and complete the online form or calltoll-free 866-859-3513. Contact may also be made to NAATP athttp://www.naatp.org. Contact Information: Paula Chirhart The Abernathy MacGregor Group 212.371.5999
SOURCE National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers(NAATP)Web Site: http://www.naatp.org http://www.hopenetworks.org