North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum says eliminating the shame and stigma of addiction will go a long way in having more people step forward to seek help. Burgum addressed those attending the sixth annual Recovery Reinvented event in Grand Forks on Thursday.
According to the governor the judicial system is at the intersection of this disease. “We believe that behavioral health, mental health, the disease of addiction – it’s all health, and it should be treated as such by focusing on the foundations of well-being, the physical health, the behavioral health and the economic health, and we can continue to grow as a strong and healthy state.”
Burgum says substance abuse impacts all 70 North Dakota agencies and every corner of the state. “We estimate that of the over $17 billion dollars that the state of North Dakota manages across federal and state programs over a two year period that close to $1 billion is impacted by the disease of addiction.”
The event was created by North Dakota First Lady Kathryn Burgum who talked about her own struggles with sobriety early in her life.The keynote speakers included:
- Carrie Steinseifer-Bates, three-time Olympic gold medalist and outreach manager at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
- Philip Rutherford, chief operating officer, Faces & Voices of Recovery.
- Teliea Baker, director, The Door Recovery Lodge.
- Dr. Bruce Perry, trauma expert and author of “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing.”
The daylong expo was held at the Alerus Center.
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