BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum are inviting the general public, American Indian communities, business and community leaders, behavioral health providers, university and college representatives, health care providers and administrators, addiction recovery advocates, faith-based communities, first responders, law enforcement, families and more to join them for Recovery Reinvented on Sept. 5 at the Fargo Civic Center.
The daylong event will feature state and national addiction and recovery experts who will focus on reinventing recovery through advocacy, community resources implementation and the elimination of stigma of the chronic brain disease of addiction.
The governor and first lady recognize that alcohol and drug use is still the No. 1 social problem in North Dakota with ramifications for the workplace, schools, communities and families.
“Our state has experienced tremendous momentum around the areas of addiction and recovery since our first Recovery Reinvented last September,” Helgaas Burgum said. “As our work has progressed, we’ve identified stigma as a crucial barrier for people seeking treatment and finding recovery. In North Dakota, only 1 in 10 people who have the disease of addiction reach out for help. Recovery Reinvented will give people the tools to eliminate stigma, promote advocacy and help establish a supportive culture around recovery in their communities.”
The Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division is hosting the North Dakota Behavioral Health Conference in partnership with Recovery Reinvented in Fargo the week of September 4. The conference provides training on best practices in mental health and addiction from prevention to recovery. Continuing education opportunities will be available.
“These two events, jointly, provide an opportunity to continue driving change in North Dakota’s behavioral health system – putting focus on prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery,” said Pamela Sagness, director of the Behavioral Health Division.
More details will be coming soon at recoveryreinvented.com, on Facebook at @GovernorDougBurgum and @flkathrynhelgaasburgum and on Twitter at @DougBurgum and @FirstLadyND.