Over the next several weeks I am supporting the HBO Addiction
Conversation. This is coincides with my Brother Blur's Happiness
Addiction second week on the air over the internet. To listen and pose
question over the internet visit. The show begins @ 10am on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday (beginning Feb 26th). We will conduct at for
further info http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?host_id=2779
interviews and discuss the following subjects matter. If you are
interested in connecting with the program follow the links below.

HBO Show HBO Special on Addiction HBO, in partnership with the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA),
has produced a multi-platform campaign to educate Americans about
advancements in the understanding of addiction and effective new
treatments. Their campaign is built around a 90-minute show, Addiction
that is part of a 14-part series that will air during a free HBO
preview weekend, kicking off with a March 15 broadcast of Addiction at
9 p.m. ET.

HBO's Addiction has six themes. One is insurance discrimination. Our
nation is in dire need of a health care system that fully addresses
the medical needs and social supports for people struggling with or
newly in recovery from addiction. Insurance companies typically impose
higher co-payments, deductibles and more restrictive visit limits for
mental health and substance use/addiction coverage then they do for
other health care, resulting in tragic losses of life. Faces & Voices
of Recovery's Addiction Recovery Equity Campaign seeks to change those
restrictive policies

HBO is talking about addiction. How does that fit into your work?

* The HBO show portrays the reality of addiction and the hope of
new pathways to recovery.
* I am here as an advocate for Changed Life Ltd to talk about
what's keeping too many of our friends and neighbors from achieving
long-term recovery.
* Insurance discrimination, highlighted in the show, denies people
with addiction the same insurance protection as people with other
health issues.
* As a result of this discrimination, many are unable to get the
treatment and recovery support services necessary to achieve long-term
recovery.
* While there are many pathways to recovery, treatment and
recovery support services should not be denied to those with addiction
to drugs or alcohol.
* My hope is that individuals like those portrayed in the
documentary will receive help to get better just like millions of
Americans and realize the benefits of long-term recovery.

As a recovery advocate, we are talk show is going to highlight the
themes stress by HBO - in the long run we hope that people will take
away from the HBO the following

* Addiction is an honest and eye-opening portrayal of people who
are affected by addiction. I hope people will come away from the
documentary asking the question "What's the next step and how can we
help people with addiction get the help they need?"
* The next step is long-term recovery. I am in long-term recovery
which means I have not used alcohol (or other drugs) for (number)
years. There are millions of other Americans just like me who have
done the same.
* If you are a family member: The next step is long-term recovery.
My [son/daughter/husband/wife] is in long-term recovery which means
that he/she has not used alcohol (or other drugs) for x number years.
There are millions of other Americans just like them who have done the
same.
* Everyone has a stake in making sure that when someone needs
treatment, help and support that they can get it.

Our show will be raising a number of issues related to addiction and
its treatment. How do you think we should solve these problems? Is one
type of treatment better than another?

* Addiction and treatment are complicated issues and there are
many pathways people can take to achieve long-term recovery.
* We must ensure that appropriate recovery support services and
treatments are available to people who need them, when they need them.
* It is crucial, therefore, that we stop insurance discrimination,
which denies people with addiction from getting the same protection as
people with other health issues.
* I am living proof that people can recover from addiction and
make a better life for themselves and their families, but I would not
have been able to do it without help and support.

Please come and visit - your support is needed!
If you are interested in past shows please read the program notes
at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?host_id=2779
1. Show # 1 - Evidence Lifestyle
2. Show # 2 - Our Private Life