HOUSTON, Texas (September 23, 2024) – In recognition of both National Recovery Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, The Council on Recovery is partnering with El Centro de Corazón and the Hispanic Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence to highlight struggles with substance misuse and stories of recovery among Hispanic and Latine communities in a press conference on Tuesday, September 24th at 1:00 pm at the Council on Recovery.
The event will begin with personal testimony from an individual with lived experience of addiction, including the unique cultural challenges he faced on his journey to recovery. Remarks will follow from the leadership of The Council on Recovery and El Centro de Corazón, highlighting their joint efforts to bring culturally competent substance use services to Hispanic communities in Houston.
“Addiction is an equal opportunity destroyer,” shares The Council’s President & CEO, Mary Beck, LMSW, CAI. “But the shame and stigma that keep people trapped in addiction can look different across communities. Our work with El Centro seeks to expand access to life-saving treatment for communities that might otherwise go without.”
Nationwide, only 6% of individuals with substance-related disorders receive treatment. Latines encounter additional challenges regarding access to healthcare, such as language and legal status, that make it harder to find help. “Drinking alcohol was a normal part of my culture growing up,” shares Victor Alvarez, a person in long-term recovery and member of The Council’s Advisory Board. “I wish I had known about different resources when I started my own recovery process.”
Tuesday’s press conference is part of a nationwide campaign to foster behavioral health equity and wellness for Hispanic and Latin populations, acknowledging the rich diversity of communities nationally, including the people, experiences, and stories that unite them. The theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” which encapsulates the spirit of innovation, resilience, and unity that define the Hispanic experience.