National radio talk show deals exclusively with addiction and recovery, USA

The Alliance for Recovery, a Seattle-based non-profit organization, has launched a national nightly radio talk show dealing exclusively with addiction and recovery. RECOVERY - Coast to Coast, which went on the air in mid-October, is live from 10PM-Midnight PST on 1590AM, KLFE (K-Life) in Seattle and broadcast nationally in streaming audio at recoverycoasttocoast featuring nationally known authors, recovering celebrities, treatment professionals, politicians and news makers.


RECOVERY - Coast to Coast is hosted by Neil Scott, whose thirty year career in broadcasting coincides with a dual career in the addictions field. He, and a series of rotating co-hosts, take calls and email questions for in-studio guests, as well as guests who call in from various parts of the country.


The second hour of each program features a person in recovery from addiction, sharing experience, strength and hope. Since many of the second hour guests are members of anonymous 12 Step programs, only first names are used in keeping with the traditions of these fellowships. "Everyone in recovery has a story that people can relate to," says Scott, who also produces the program. "By talking about what it was like, what happened and what it's like now, the program speaks directly to those who are in need of treatment, as well as to family members and friends who need to know that there is help and hope available." Second hour guests who are in recovery must have at least one year of continuous recovery to participate.


With recent advances in technology, the program can be heard in streaming audio and will soon be available "on demand," both from the website and via podcasting. Rob Greenlee, whose company webtalkradio streams the signal across the country, is excited about the possibilities. "Because of the importance of the topic, it is now possible for people who miss the program at night at it's original air time, to hear it any time by going to recoverycoasttocoast and either downloading it or signing up for podcasting, which will automatically send the program to individual ipods," said Greenlee who has been providing streaming services and podcasting for the past five years.


Scott, who also does special assignment work for ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and Sirius satellite radio, has also worked for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) and other national, state and local organizations. "Radio is a powerful way to not only carry the message, but actively deliver it in an informative, entertaining, inter-active manner," said Scott. "Alcoholism alone affects some15 million individuals in this country, and each one of them directly and adversely affects four to six others, including family and friends. And when you add other drug addictions, as well as behavioral addictions, including gambling, sex and eating, the numbers are absolutely incredible."















RECOVERY - Coast to Coast is a resource for people seeking recovery, as well as those in a recovery program. Scott stresses the positive, "The bright side of addiction is recovery, and recovery is an American way of life. We are giving a new voice to the recovery movement by talking about it openly and honestly."


Christopher Kennedy Lawford, whose best selling book Symptoms of Withdrawal chronicles not only his addiction but his nearly twenty years in recovery, recently took calls and answered email questions from listeners across the country. "Chris is one of the new ambassadors for recovery," explained Scott. "His public recovery helps to diminish the stigma long associated with alcoholism and other drug addictions. Addiction is a treatable disease from which people can and do successfully recover. People suffering from addiction are not bad people trying to be good, they are sick people who are getting well. There is no such thing as a hopeless addict."


The two hour nightly program is funded through donations and contributions from individuals, foundations and enlightened corporations who are able to play a key role in creating a better understanding of alcoholism and other drug addictions. "We are starting with very limited funding, confident that this project will receive enough recognition and generate significant contributions necessary to sustain Recovery -Coast to Coast, which is the only radio program in America on the air two hours a night five nights a week." There are a number of other radio shows around the country that deal with addiction, however they are usually weekly programs, most limited to weekends."We are all in this together, and together we can all make a difference." Scott is planning on taking the program on the road, broadcasting one week a month from New York City and doing remote broadcasts at recovery-oriented events around the country.


Commercial advertising is also sold and targeted to a growing and exceptionally loyal audience of consumers.


Mel Schulstad, co-founder of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) and president of the Alliance for Recovery, stresses the importance of working together. "Being on the air for two hours a night, five nights a week, affords us the opportunity to give a voice to national and state organizations, as well as America's leading treatment providers, who are on the front lines in the battle against addiction. This is a great collaborative opportunity. We welcome guests from organizations and programs who wish to share their message."


Topics on Recovery - Coast to Coast include trends in treatment, recovery resources, as well as family and support issues. They also tackle public policy issues, national legislation and the costs and benefits of treatment. "We recently spoke with the lead researcher on a UCLA study that reported for every dollar spent on treatment, seven dollars is saved in societal costs, including reduced crime, increased employment and considerably less utilization of mainstream medical services. Legislators and the insurance industry need to know that treatment is actually an economical way to reduce America's rising health care costs." explained Scott.


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