More than 100 people attended the opening reception of the DeKalb County Recovery Court Art Exhibit on Wednesday, April 5. The exhibit was open April 5th through April 7th.
The art at the exhibit was produced by recovery court participants from across Tennessee and was originally shown at the annual Tennessee Association for Drug Court Professionals (TADCP) conference this past December. One of the Dekalb County Recovery Court participants, Michael Blanchfield, who also produced art for the exhibit, spoke at the reception, as well as County Mayor Tim Stribling.
Program Coordinator Norene Puckett and Counselor Kay Quintero received Community Spotlight awards for their work with recovery court from the Smithville-Dekalb Chamber of Commerce and St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. Along with TADCP, local sponsors of the event included the Dekalb County Prevention Coalition and St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. This event was an impressive example of local collaboration. Not only were all the sponsors on site helping to set up, providing food for volunteers and setting up the reception, but there was also a local radio station on site as well as iCUBE from Tennessee Tech University (http://ttuicube.com/). They had a station where one could participate in a simulation to experience the impact of driving under the influence of a variety of substances.
County Mayor Stribling read the following proclamation for 2017 NCADD Alcohol Awareness Month, Connecting the Dots: Opportunities for Recovery
“WHEREAS, excessive drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year; and
WHEREAS, alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, nearly 10 million young people, ages 12 to 20, report that they’ve consumed
alcohol in the past 30 days; and
WHEREAS, young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more
likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21; and
WHEREAS, drinking by persons under the age of 21 is illegal, yet people aged 12 to
20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the typical American will see 100,000 beer commercials before he or she
turns 18; and
WHEREAS, kids who drink are more likely to be victims of violent crime, to be
Involved in alcohol-related traffic crashes, and to have serious school-related
problems; and
WHEREAS, a supportive family environment is associated with lowered rates of
alcohol use for adolescents; and
WHEREAS, kids who have conversations with their parents and learn a lot about the
dangers of alcohol and drug use are 50% less likely to use alcohol and drugs than
those who don’t have such conversations.
THEREFORE, I, DeKalb County Mayor Tim Stribling now join the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) and do hereby proclaim that April 2017 is Alcohol Awareness Month in DeKalb County, Tennessee. As the DeKalb County Mayor, I also call upon all citizens, parents, governmental agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, hospitals, schools and colleges in DeKalb
County, Tennessee to support efforts that will provide early education about alcoholism and addiction and increase support for individuals and
families coping with alcoholism. Through these efforts, together, we can provide Hope, Help and Healing for those in our community who are facing challenges with alcohol use and abuse.
May it be so decreed.”
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