Governor recognizes National Recovery Month in time for Valley’s first Remembrance and Recovery via Prevention event

WASILLA — Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently recognized September as National Recovery Month, encouraging all Alaskans to foster compassion for those struggling with addiction and support recovery efforts in their communities.

Mat-Su Opioid Task Force founder Michael Carson gleefully opened a large yellow envelope inside his home Aug. 18. The mail parcel contained a copy of an official proclamation from Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

“This is exciting. The word is getting out,” Carson said.

National Recovery Month is a time dedicated to showing that recovery is possible by promoting the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders, celebrating those in recovery, and recognizing the efforts of treatment and service providers.

Carson said it’s all about spreading a message of hope, that behavioral health is essential to community health, that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover all the time.

The proclamation will be read to the public during the first annual Remembrance and Recovery via Prevention event at Wasilla Lake Park, kicking off National Recovery Month and a new community tradition.

Remembrance and Recovery via Prevention is a new two-day recovery event that coincides with National Overdose Day (Aug. 31) and National Recovery Day (Sept.1).

During the first day, there will be a public reading of the names of local lives lost to addiction with representational crosses displayed in the background. The ceremony starts at 6 p.m. with opportunities for community members to share their stories and connect with others.

“We’re hoping that people that might need recovery might show up that day and get some information that can convince them that they can take the step over the threshold and get some help,” Carson said.

The second day of the event features a Recover Fair that runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with vendors, food trucks, vendors, games, door prizes, and a variety of groups and specialists in the recovery community onsite throughout the day. There will also be presentations with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink as the keynote speaker.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Carson said.

Carson said the Recovery Fair will also include several local health providers, a mobile unit for HIV and Hepatitis C testing, and a pop-up clinic for COVID-19 vaccines. He said that he recently received 1,000 fentanyl test strips from Project Hope that will be given out with other resources during the event. He noted that they’re also planning to have Narcan training the hour before the keynote presentation.

“Getting people into recovery we need to keep them safe, healthy, and thriving right?” Carson said.

Remembrance and Recovery via Prevention takes place Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Wasilla Lake Park.

Those interested in having the names of loved ones lost to substance misuse or currently trapped in addiction read the first evening are encouraged to email event organizer, John Green at KellsiesKey@yahoo.com.

For more information, visit matsuopioidtaskforce.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com