NATIONAL BASKETBALL RETIRED PLAYERS ASSOCIATION AND KIVA RECOVERY LAUNCH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM FOR FORMER PLAYERS

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), the only Association comprised of NBA, ABA, Harlem Globetrotters and WNBA alumni, announced Kiva Recovery as the organization’s new substance abuse education and treatment partner. As part of this key new partnership and program, Kiva will provide a number of services to NBRPA Members and their families.

“It’s well-documented that the transition from the playing court into life after basketball isn’t easy – for our members or their families,” said NBRPA President & CEO Arnie D. Fielkow. “With that in mind, we felt it very important for a state-of-industry partner to join the NBRPA family as a trusted, private agency equipped to deal with former players or their family members that are battling drug and/or alcohol addiction.”

Based in Vernon Hills just a few miles from the NBRPA National Office, Kiva Recovery is a clinical treatment center dedicated to replacing addiction with solution-focused, growth-oriented strategies focusing on:

- Lifelong Recovery through Holistic (Global) Health

- Positive Character Building through Continuous Character Growth

- Life Satisfaction through Contentment

As part of its innovative partnership with the NBRPA, Kiva will offer confidential consultations with NBRPA Members to investigate presenting issues, outreach calls to the member and their family when approved, formal and informal screening of the member or families needs, facilitating services to match the Member or families need and continued support throughout the process for all involved.

Through its outreach and assessment process, Kiva will supportively direct members and their families to the most appropriate level of service based on their global health and clinical needs. All levels of service will be available to NBRPA Members and their families as part of the partnership.

In addition to the consultation and treatment process, Kiva will educate NBRPA Members and their families on substance abuse issues with online webinars, in-person seminars at NBRPA events and a permanent, customized portal at LegendsofBasketball.com. Kiva will also work with an NBRPA Member that has overcome addiction to become the program’s ambassador in order to truly entrench this important partnership and program in the NBRPA family.

Retired athletes may find themselves facing substance abuse issues for a number of reasons. Some may have become reliant on opiates used to manage the pain or injury during their playing days and the chronic pain that continues when they leave the court. Others may turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the depression and anxiety of adjusting to retirement. Given their high profile reputation they often feel they have nowhere to turn for help. Kiva’s partnership with NBRPA gives retired players a safe, private and confidential place to get the consultation, treatment, and support they need to overcome their addictions.

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, WNBA and Harlem Globetrotters. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Arnie D. Fielkow is the President & CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Thurl Bailey, Vice Chairman Dwight Davis, Treasurer Marvin Roberts, Secretary Nancy Lieberman, Past Chairman Robert A. (Bob) Elliott, Rick Barry, James Donaldson, Mike Glenn, Spencer Haywood, LaRue Martin Jr., Johnny Newman and Eldridge Recasner.

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The trusted resource in addiction treatment, Kiva Recovery’s groundbreaking model focuses on the individual and the strengths within each of us. Kiva’s treatment approach aims to replace addiction with solution-focused, growth-oriented strategies focusing on Lifelong Recovery through Holistic Health, Positive Character Building through Continuous Character Growth, and Life Satisfaction through Contentment. The Kiva Recovery treatment center is located 35 miles from downtown Chicago in the beautiful northern suburbs of Lake County, IL. To learn more, please visit www.KivaRecovery.com.