JACKSON- Mississippi’s Recovery Summit hosted the Rally for Recovery and Legislative day hosted an event at the Capitol building on Friday, Jan. 27.
Ralliers gathered from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. to encourage communities to educate, advocate, erase stigma, and provide peer-based recovery support services for people with substance use disorders.
This was the first ever rally for their cause accompanied by an information session in the rotunda.
The group gathered to remind people that despite public opinion, addiction is not a moral failing, but a disease in which the brain of the addict/alcoholic is altered. The group said in order to beat the disease they must first change how others view people with a substance abuse disorder.
The stigma associated with addict behavior can often prevent people from admitting they have a problem and seeking help.
The Mississippi Recovery Summit 2017 took place just a day before the rally at Belhaven University.
