Florida Parishes Human Services Authority (FPHSA) teamed up with the Addictive Disorders Services (ADS) to hold a Recovery Walk in Zemurray Park on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010. The walk lasted from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to raise awareness of the drug and alcohol abuse and usage in our local area.

The walk was a way for FPHSA to show that there are other ways to let out your stress and frustration besides using drugs or alcohol. There was also information on prevention and recovery offered at the event.

There were events and special guest to fill up the time for the morning. The mayor of Hammond, Mayor Foster, opened up the morning with an appearance and a Proclamation. There were also two guest speakers. Gino Morris told his story of being born addicted and his struggles to overcome himself to have that strive for recovery.  Sue Tart told of her trouble in managing a family and being a good mother while having the disease of alcoholism. Before the speakers all who attended participated in a walk around the entire Zemurray Park. To end the afternoon a singer who donated his time, Chris Gray, performed. He performed a few inspiring and uplifting songs for the attendees.

“Addiction is an equal opportunity destroyer,” said event coordinator with Northlake Addictive Disorders Clinic, Jackie Lambert. “It does not matter your age, your race, male, female it does not matter.” Lambert added, “It also does not only affect the ones addicted. It affects those around them as well.”

This year is the 21st anniversary of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Recovery Month is focused on letting people struggling with an addiction know that there is hope. They must come forward and take the initiative because there is plenty of help out there for them. The theme for Recovery Month this year was “Join the Voices for Recovery Now More than Ever”.

Everything from the food, the tents and the performance were donated.

“The city of Hammond has been very good towards us having this event here,” said Tamu Walters, a social service counselor from Northlake Addictive Disorders Clinic. Walters added, “We really appreciate them for everything they have done. It has really been nice.”

Other donors included Hammond, Wal-Mart, Ed’s Plumbing, Mandeville Bake Shop and Berry Town Produce.

For more information on future Recovery Walks or information on recovery and prevention contact Jackie Lambert at (985) 871-1247.