Charity of the Month: Families of Addicts (October 2018)

Recently, Dayton was named the overdose capital of the United States. A local organization in the Miami Valley called Families of Addicts (FOA) aims to eradicate this label. FOA  transforms lives affected by addiction by connecting people to recovery resources. This organization supports individuals seeking and in recovery as well as their families.

To eliminate the stigma around addiction, FOA holds outreach events such as the annual Rally 4 Recovery in Dayton. They also hold weekly meetings in several nearby counties. Creating an environment of compassion and understanding about addiction is one of their main priorities. People affected by addiction are encouraged to share their stories in order to show that recovery is possible. In 2017, FOA reported:

• Over 7,500 weekly meeting total attendance
• ​450 calls for information, support and resources
• ​200 people connected to treatment
• ​Over 100 outreach events attended

FOA acts as a liaison between individuals and recovery resources, especially when individuals do not have the ability to help themselves. People faced with addiction and their families are welcome to attend FOA’s weekly meetings which provide methods for obtaining and sustaining recovery. They also provide opportunities for individuals who are seeking or going through recovery to form connections with one another.

The cost of each weekly meeting is $3 per person and donations to FOA help cover this cost. Donations also go towards providing phone support, resource referrals, education, and advocacy.