"Breaking the Silence: Addiction Recovery Takes Center Stage at West Chester University"

Nearly three-quarters of the over 29 million adult Americans with substance use disorder are in recovery, according to new federal data. Advocates gathered at the Mobilize Recovery conference in Washington, D.C. to call for political action and support for people in recovery. The conference aims to make people in recovery a visible political group that can push for change. The data also highlighted the importance of treatment and a whole-health approach to facilitating recovery. Policy recommendations included expanding access to healthcare and substance use treatment, implementing accessible housing programs, and creating community-based support networks. The event brought together policymakers and organizers, signaling a growing recognition of the recovery community. Advocates emphasized the need for people in recovery to be seen as a constituency and called for more elected officials with lived experience to make policy decisions.