By Cathleen Twardzik

The Seventh Annual Massachusetts Motorcycle Ride for Recovery started its engines at the Somerville City Hall from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for people in recovery, families, friends and policymakers.

An escorted ride started at 11:30 a.m. for the destination of the Maynard Sports Club in Maynard, MA.  The 12:30 p.m. arrival time was met. To round out the day, the Recovery Month Ceremony began at 1:30 p.m.

The Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP), Middlesex Human Services Agency and the Everett Community Health Partnership, and Cambridge Prevention Coalition took part in the event which was sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

This event celebrates the “health” of living in recovery, since it commences the ride to Maynard, where the life of Bob Herne will continue to be celebrated. Heme was a mentor to many people who are in recovery.

Across the country, 4.3 million people, 1.7 percent of the population, received treatment for substance use disorders, and 30.2 million adults received services for mental health problems, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Because of the passage of health reform, all Americans have the opportunity to access the provisions, which are found in the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act (MHPAEA), the aim of which is to improve physical and emotional health, while ensuring that people will receive the care that they need at a more reasonable cost.

For people who are not in the recovery community, the forum stressed the importance of helping a loved one in need, and it informed individuals about opportunities for prevention and treatment, as well as recovery options.

It was all part of the twenty-second observance of National Recovery Month: Prevention Works, Treatment is Effective, People Recover.

The speakers in Somerville included: Ivette Torres, Consumer Affairs Director of SAMHSA/CSAT/HHS, Cory Mashburn, Director of the Office of Prevention of the Somerville Health Department, Adam Barret, Massachusetts Nurses Association on Addiction, Walter DeGuglielmo, staff, Senator Salvatore DiDomenico, Maryanne Frangules, MOAR, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, Executive Director and Stephanie Almeida, Co-chair of the Motorcycle Ride.

They addressed this year’s theme, which was “Join the Voices for Recovery: Recovery Benefits Everyone.” The focus was on the latest facts about substance use, as well as about mental disorder prevention and treatment. The way in which recovery positively benefits an individual’s overall health and wellbeing and how family and community are involved in the recovery process were discussed.

The Ride for Recovery “was started by two individuals [both of whom underwent the tragedy of seeing] people around them pass away from addiction and recovery. They both liked riding motorcycles and that brought together the Ride for Recovery,” said Mashburn.

The City of Somerville does much about the problem of addiction prevention. On September 22 Recovery Roundtable at SCATV will be a taped TV show with invited guests attending. It will be shown year round on SCATV and on the Internet.  Recovery Roundtable will be a venue to discuss resources for family members that have someone going through addiction or recovery, in their family or a friend,” he said.

A forum about addiction and recovery, which will be led by the Clinical Youth Specialist Patty Contente, which is part of the Somerville Office of Prevention, is scheduled for later this year.

All year long Somerville Cares About Prevention’s programs focus on preventing underage drinking and substance abuse.  “We have at least seven events concerning the prevention of underage drinking and substance abuse.”

“The Somerville Trauma Response Network (STRN) is available to all residents of Somerville. The mission of the STRN is to build a team of Somerville community members to respond when a traumatic event, involving youth occurs in the city.”

Importantly, “The Ride for Recovery is just one event to discuss recovery in Somerville.  The City’s Clinical Youth Specialist Patty Contente, who works [in] the Somerville Office of Prevention has had two forums this year, concerning addiction and recovery and plans on having another one later in the year,” said Mashburn.

Mayor Curtatone has proclaimed this September as National Recovery Month. Why does the mayor consider this of importance? “Research shows that substance use disorders are medical conditions that can be effectively treated. Yet studies have consistently found that a successful recovery for many [people] suffering from substance use disorders is impeded by the general public’s misconceptions about the disease and treatment.”

“Additionally, 5.4 million adults also were living with a concurrent mental illness. Of those with a substance use disorder, 3.9 million have courageously opted to seek some form of treatment, and we need to recognize their achievements, support them and their families, and reach out to those still in need about the issues surrounding addiction, treatment, and recovery, learn how to help those who are suffering, and access available resources in our communities and online,” said Curtatone.