BLOG: My 12 Step Store Throws Sober Party for National Recovery Month

For those of you not in the know (meaning most of you), the month of September is recognized as National Recovery Month.

According to recoverymonth.org, Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders. It celebrates people in recovery, lauds the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. Recovery Month spreads the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.

So what happened in West Hollywood for National Recovery Month now that September is almost over and done with?  West Hollywood is hardly known for its sober soirées, let’s be honest here—however, on September 16^th 2012, My 12 Step Store (www.my12stepstore.com) --the local WeHo recovery gifts and book boutique that's located in the heart of West Hollywood took matters into their own hands and they threw a party.  That would be a sober party to promote National Recovery Month and a book signing event to celebrate the book “Party Girl” by Anna David, the executive editor of The Fix.

“Party Girl” follows the sex-ploits, and star-studded rock & roll drug-fests of celebrity journalist Amelia Stone—a party girl that has it all; the looks, the job, the lifestyle and of course the out-of-control cocaine habit.  Amelia Stone eventually hits rock bottom, but she crosses the treacherous grounds of addiction, self-destruction, and finds recovery without losing her sharp wit, unapologetic honesty, and odds-defying optimism. 

Actor Tom Sizemore joined Celebrity Rehab’s Ashley Hamilton and Shifty Shellshock Binzer (of the rock band Crazy Town) in front of My 12 Step Store for snacks and refreshments as they mingled with guests who showed up to support Ana David’s critically acclaimed novel.  West Hollywood councilmember and former WeHo Mayor John Duran also attended the event.  Director of outreach for the store, RJ Holguin honored David with the first annual “Speaker Water Award” as a thank you for carrying the message that sobriety works---SPEAKER WATER is signature water that’s exclusive to the store.  It was created to inspire and to thank people for carrying the message of recovery. 

I wore an ironical Sober & Sexy t-shirt with the sleeves hacked off to show people that sobriety can still be fun.  I thought the event was well attended.  I think this could be the start of something huge in West Hollywood. It will hopefully inspire similar events for National Recovery Month, because like it or not, thousands of WeHo residents are sober and thousands more can get clean and sober if drinking and drugging has become a problem.

My 12 Step Store is now in its ninth year - outreach services also include sponsorships, inspiration programs and awareness for families and individuals in recovery and affected by addictionis.  The store is located at 8730 Santa Monica Blvd, on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Huntley Drive between San Vicente Blvd or visit www.my12stepstore.com

Photos used with permission by Gil Cortes