About 3,000 people are expected to hold hands while spanning the Interstate Bridge connecting Oregon and Washington this Labor Day. The Hands Across the Bridge event will celebrate the success of treatment and recovery for alcohol and drug addiction, and is part of September’s National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Elected officials from Oregon and Washington will also join Hands Across the Bridge, which occurs Monday, Sept. 7th from 10:00 a.m.

I know this kind of event is being duplicated all over the nation with a big recovery rally in New York and there will be a number of different events here in my hometown, San Diego.

So often, the public sees only the bad side of addiction, but there is positive news to share every day. Those of us in recovery are transformed and society needs to be reminded that recovery is a beautiful thing.

Treatment works and recovery is real. That is the really, really good news. Our families heal. Our communities heal.

While recovery is often a private journey, recovery success benefits everyone through a more productive workforce, lowered health care costs and a reduction in crime rates.

Let’s take pictures for all the world to see...

There are millions of people today who are in recovery. We need to let our communities know that we have hope. We have to let people know there is hope from the disease of addiction.

I encourage those in recovery to participate in their local city’s events to help challenge the stigma of substance abuse-related issues.

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