Event on Nov. 20 to feature Drug Addiction Resource Alliance graduates, resources, and free naloxone
The Drug Addiction Resource Alliance will host an in-person community forum on Thursday, Nov. 20, featuring first-hand stories from local residents who have completed the program and are now thriving in recovery.
The event, presented by DARA Founder Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy, the North Penn YMCA, and the International Festival Foundation, will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the North Penn YMCA, 608 E. Main Street.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for attendees to visit informational tables staffed by local treatment partners and support services. Admission is free and open to all.
DARA, founded by Duffy in 2016, is a network of regional organizations focused on connecting families with resources for substance use disorder, including treatment placement, education, and ongoing support.
According to DARA’s mission information and resources listed at darasaveslives.com, the alliance provides guidance for loved ones, information about treatment pathways, and referrals to agencies offering counseling, recovery housing, and harm-reduction tools.
In a statement, Duffy said the alliance was created in response to a sharp rise in drug-related cases entering her courtroom.
“We started DARA in 2016 because I saw such an increase in drug related cases in my court,” Duffy said. “I was lucky enough to find some dedicated people to work with me in getting people into treatment. To date, we have been able to place approximately 1,000 people into inpatient and outpatient treatment.”
The Nov. 20 forum marks DARA’s 16th public event and will include a presentation, a question-and-answer session, and free naloxone distribution. Duffy said this year’s program carries particular significance.
“This forum is especially unique because we will be featuring several Dara ‘graduates’ who are thriving now in recovery,” she said. “We expect our panel’s stories to be uplifting and heartwarming.”
More information about DARA and available community resources can be found at www.darasaveslives.com
