FOR RELEASE: July 18, 2006
GALVESTON, Texas — The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston invites the public to the first Celebrate Recovery Street Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Winnie Street between 23rd and 25th streets in Galveston.
This event, offered free of charge and coordinated by UTMB’s Center for Addiction Research and the Gulf Coast Center Recovery Program, will bring together those recovering from addiction, addiction treatment professionals and educators to inspire members of the Galveston community to lead healthier lives and to fight the disease of addiction.
The festival will feature free health screenings, exercise safety demonstrations, entertainment, door prizes and food. Children can enjoy face painting, games and clowns.
The event is in recognition of September as National Recovery Awareness Month, and it honors those in recovery and their families. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, abuse of tobacco, alcohol and illegal and prescription drugs is the leading cause of death, disability and disease in the United States. CASA says abuse of these substances is also commonly related to many of the nation’s social problems, such as shattered families, crime, the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, spousal and child abuse, traffic accidents and fires.
For more information, please call Eliza Quigley at (409) 772-9653 or email ekquigle@utmb.edu in the UTMB Center for Addiction Research.
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Public Affairs Office
301 University Boulevard, Suite 3.102
Galveston, Texas 77555-0144
www.utmb.edu