It is wonderful to see politicians advocating for recovery. Here is film of former Congressman Jim Ramstad, who has done so much recovery advocacy work, talking about recovery. This film is from ManyFaces1Voice and The Anonymous People.
“I woke up in a jail cell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on July 31st, 1981. It was the fifth month of my first term in the State Senate. I was mortified, I was humiliated, I was embarrassed beyond words, I wanted to be dead. I wanted to be dead.
But, instead of being the end of my life, the end of my career, it was just merely the beginning. For the first time in my life, I decided to tell the truth about my drinking. Even though it was very, very humiliating and embarrassing to wake up in jail, to be under arrest, it was also very freeing to be able to talk about who I really was.”
‘Former Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN) is a passionate champion of people in or seeking recovery. Ramstad partnered with former Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) to found the bipartisan Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus while serving in the House of Representatives.
He was instrumental in the enactment of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, and continues to advocate for its successful implementation as part of Patriots for Parity.’
And why not check out Bill Moyers interviewing Jim Ramstad about his recovery.
