WASHINGTON – U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, was awarded the Bob Savage Recovery Advocate of the Year Award by the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) on Monday. He was named the recipient at CCAR’s 2019 Legislative Day for his work on mental health and opioid addiction. CCAR is one of the oldest recovery community organizations in America and celebrated twenty years of powerful journeys, a richness in diversity, and a spirit of resiliency. CCAR believes that people in recovery, friends, family members and allies all have a unique opportunity to advocate and share their stories.  

“Too many people in Connecticut and around the country suffer from addiction or know someone affected by addiction, and they expect those in power to do something about it. In Connecticut, we saw firsthand what happens when people fighting addiction have the support of a recovery coach, someone who has been in their shoes and seen success. I was so proud to work with CCAR to get my Recovery Coach bill, based on their program, signed into law,” said Murphy. “I’m proud to accept this award, and I want to thank the people at CCAR for all the great work they’ve done to provide an open space and resource for people in recovery.”

“The Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery is pleased to announce that Senator Chris Murphy has been selected to receive the Bob Savage Recovery Advocate of the Year Award,” said Michael Askew, Director of Recovery Advocacy at CCAR. “Senator Chris Murphy has been a champion in the national efforts regarding the opioid epidemic. He took multiple steps forward for the recovery community by pushing to pass the bipartisan opioid package. Murphy’s bipartisan Recovery Coach Act, which he co-authored with U.S. Senator Shelly Moore-Capito (R-W.Va.), was included in the bill.”

Last year, President Trump signed into law the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which included Murphy’s Recovery COACH Act that he co-sponsored with U.S. Senator Shelly Moore-Capito (R-W.Va.). The Recovery COACH Act was inspired by Connecticut’s recovery coach program. The bill provides states with grants to ensure individuals with substance use disorder have access to specifically trained coaches in recovery themselves who can mentor, provide support for families, and help patients navigate treatment options.  

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