NEWBERG, OR (Nov. 24, 2014) – A special screening and public discussion of the groundbreaking film “The Anonymous People” will take place, Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Greater Portland Bible Church (2374 SW Vermont St. in Portland). The free event will be preceded by a social hour at 6 p.m. Hosted by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Center for Public Advocacy and Hazelden in Springbrook’s Alumni Chapter, this moving documentary tells the story of the more than 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
It features the diverse faces and voices of recovering people who are fighting against the stigma of addiction that has kept them silent and hidden for decades.
“We encourage members of the recovery community, their friends and family and those facing the challenges of substance abuse to attend,” said Jan Vondrachek, vice president of the Pacific Northwest Region for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. “There is much to be learned about how we can change the conversation about addiction from problems to solutions.
“Betty Ford was our nation’s first public advocate for recovery from addiction, opening up about her own story of addiction and recovery in a powerful and historically significant way,” Vondrachek continued. The Anonymous People extends her legacy for a new generation, so it is especially exciting for us to screen the film at our communities throughout the country, including here in Oregon.”
Following the screening, a discussion with the audience will be moderated by William Moyers, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s vice president of public affairs and community relations. It will also feature panelists Dwight Holton, CEO, Lines for Life; Dr. Andy Mendenhall, medical director at Hazelden in Beaverton; James O'Rourke, attorney at law; Dr. Jeffery Young, psychologist at Hazelden in Springbrook; and Patty Katz, cofounder, Hands Across the Bridge.
Seating is limited. To make reservations, visit www.hazelden.org\people. The film trailer may also be viewed at the same page.
About The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and communities affected by addiction to alcohol and other drugs. It is the nation’s largest nonprofit treatment provider, with a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center. With 15 sites in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas, the Foundation offers prevention and recovery solutions nationwide and across the entire continuum of care to help youth and adults reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. It includes the largest recovery publishing house in the country, a fully accredited graduate school of addiction studies, an addiction research center, an education arm for medical professionals and a unique children’s program, and is the nation’s leader in advocacy and policy for treatment and recovery. Learn more at www.hazeldenbettyford.org.
