Nonprofit working to prevent harms from alcohol, celebrate sobriety

The negative effects of alcohol abuse are well known. According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol is the most common drug used among adults in the United States, despite its affect on health, safety, and well-being.

The use of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of injuries and accidents. Alcoholism and chronic use of alcohol can lead to numerous medical, psychiatric, social, and family problems.

Those contribute directly to the loss of billions of dollars annually in workplace productivity and avoidable health-care expenses. A local nonprofit organization is dedicated to reducing excessive alcohol use and the negative consequences that often follow.

Recover Alaska has been around in one form or another since 2009. Tiffany Hall, the organization’s president and CEO, said that in addition to giving out mission-supporting mini-grants to organizations in every region of the state, Recover Alaska works at the policy level. Recent successes there include advocating for an alcohol tax in Anchorage and statewide penalties for bars that serve minors or intoxicated people.

“Rather than focus on blame and shame toward individuals, we consider the structure and conditions under which alcohol is served and sold and work to create a safer and healthier environment,” Hall said. “This is long-term work with big goals and broad measures.”

Part of that work is coordinating a statewide prevention alliance to provide resources and support in an effort to change social norms and reduce stigma. Celebrating recovery and normalizing sober spaces is also important, Hall said.

To that end, observing National Recovery Month every September, Dry January, and Alaska’s Sobriety Awareness Month every March are part of the annual calendar. During the March event, Recover Alaska honors the efforts of people in recovery, naming three of them “Sober Heroes” and empowering them as spokespeople.

As with any nonprofit, keeping the lights on and services uninterrupted is an ongoing challenge. A three-year, $600,000 grant last year from the nonprofit Mat-Su Health Foundation is helping.

“Some of that grant funds our operations, including wages and rent,” Hall said. “That allows us to stay dedicated to the mission.”

The Mat-Su Health Foundation has been investing in community health and wellness since its inception in 2007. As part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the Health Foundation has returned more than $138 million of its share of hospital profits to the community through scholarships and nonprofit organizations across the Valley.

Hall said Recover Alaska has benefited “in countless ways” over the years from the support of the Foundation, not just from funding, but also through “thought partnership.”

“It feels like wraparound support for grantees to have such access to experts in their fields to collaborate with, without the fear of messing up in front of a funder,” Hall said. “Mat-Su Health Foundation is making a phenomenal impact on the lives of those they serve. So many aspects of their work speaks to long-term positive change.”

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https://recoveralaska.org/