Idaho Community Spans Bridge to Celebrate National Recovery Month
People whose lives have been touched by addiction joined hands near Lewiston, Idaho, Sept. 18 to span the Interstate Bridge in a show of hope and solidarity.
Stephanie Smith of Idaho's KLEW-TV reported on the "Hands Across the Bridge" ceremony, a community event designed to celebrate September's designation as National Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month: "What we are trying to do is a prevention event to show families that there is fun for families without drugs or alcohol and to also show the number of lives that are touched by addictions, whether it is alcohol or other substances and also to show others that there is hope in recovery," said Sherry Greenup, Asotin County Substance Abuse/Mental Health Coordinator.
There were speeches by those touched by alcohol and other drugs. Greenup says addiction is a huge problem in the Valley.
“It's a very inter-generational, especially alcohol. It's been seen as a right of passage and ‘at least my kids aren't doing drugs’ kind of thing, but I think that most people do know somebody, a lot of people are really good at hiding it, whether it is a neighbor or family friend or a spouse or sibling. 1 in 5, at least, they say are touched by alcoholism