New Life Lodge Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Author: CRC Staff
Date: 10/6/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Contact: Bob Weiner/Rebecca Vander Linde 301-283-0821 or 202-329-1700

FRI. OCT. 9 11:15 AM NEWS CONFERENCE AT BURNS, TN NEW LIFE LODGE 25TH ANNIVERSARY, EXPANSION, DRUG CRISIS NEWS:
999 Girl Scout Road, Burns, TN 37029

WILL ADDRESS ABUSE TRIPLING OF "NEW HEROIN" PRESCRIPTION OPIATES LIKE OXYCONTIN, ONE HALF MILLION TENNESSEANS LACK TREATMENT WHO NEED IT ACCORDING TO HHS

VIP'S 4-STAR GEN.-FORMER DRUG CZAR BARRY MCCAFFREY, CRC HEALTH CEO BARRY KARLIN, TENN. ASST. MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONER BRUCE EMERY, NATIONAL AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, POLICE CHIEFS, OTHER TREATMENT LEADERS

GROUNDBREAKING & BALLOON LIFTOFF AS ONE OF COUNTRY'S PREMIER DRUG TREATMENT FACILITIES TO DOUBLE ADOLESCENT PROGRAM, ADD $4 MILLION BUILDING

(Nashville and Burns, TN)—At 11:15 PM on Friday, Oct. 9, Burns, Tennessee's New Life Lodge, one of the country's premier drug and alcohol treatment facilities, will celebrate its 25th Anniversary with a news conference announcement of doubling its national model adolescent program, groundbreaking of a $4 million expansion, balloon liftoff, and discussion of the ongoing drug crisis.

VIP's participating from around the country will include Four-Star General and former U.S. Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey, state and local officials including Tennessee's Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Bruce Emery, police chiefs, national and local treatment leaders, and Dr. Barry Karlin, CEO of New Life Lodge's parent company, CRC Health Group, the country's largest substance abuse and behavioral treatment provider with 140 facilities nationwide.

In addition, participants at the events will discuss the crisis which remains, including the tripling of prescription drug abuse of opiates such as OxyContin, the "new heroin", in addition to cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, designer and "club" drugs, and alcohol. SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of HHS) reports that Tennessee is among the highest ten states for non-medical abuse of prescription drugs. According to the federal HHS, almost a half million Tennesseans – 485,000 – need but do not receive drug and alcohol treatment, and 23.9 million people across the U.S. lack treatment.

As part of the events, pop/blues artist John McAndrew, who has sung for NATO heads of state, will perform.

New Life Lodge is located at 999 Girl Scout Road. Burns TN 37029, tel. 615-446-7034 or 866-836-8125.

Gen. McCaffrey, now a national media expert on drugs and terror and West Point professor, stated, "We celebrate the success of treatment but must address the continuing crisis – and New Life Lodge is a model of the way forward. The national and state treatment gaps remain a huge challenge. 23.9 million Americans need but do not receive treatment for illicit drug or alcohol problems according to the latest numbers from HHS. Less than four million receive treatment. In Tennessee 485,000 people need but do not receive treatment."

Dr. Karlin said, "New Life Lodge is a national model facility with an outstanding adolescent program, and we are proud the facility is doubling its badly needed adolescent capacity pointing the way to recovery." He added, "The October 9 events signify that we celebrate, honor and remember the patients, families and staff who have gone through treatment, and carry hope for those still suffering from the disease. Drug abuse is a chronic illness just like diabetes and hypertension. Treatment works."

Joe Pritchard, CRC Vice President who oversees New Life Lodge, and ten-year former Nashville resident, will emcee the events.

Source: Robert Weiner Associates 301-283-0821/202-329-1700