CONGRESSMAN KENNEDY ADDRESSES ADDICTION

PROVIDENCE --US Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, in his first
public appearance since treatment for a drug addiction, said this
morning that he recognizes he faces a lifelong battle.

Kennedy was released Friday from the Mayo Clinic, where he checked
himself in for treatment for an addiction to pain medication after
crashing into a checkpoint barrier near the Capitol a month ago.

"On June 2, I concluded my treatment at the Mayo Clinic," Kennedy
said. "I recognize that 'concluded' is not a word that I will ever be
able to use when it comes to my aftercare. I have struggled with
addiction and dependency for much of my life, and I remember a friend
who successfully battled cancer once saying you can never say for
sure that you're 100 percent cured from cancer until you die at age
95 of something else. This is true for addiction as well."

He called for the nation to improve mental health care and to
eliminate the stigma of mental illness. He drew two standing ovations
during his half-hour speech before 300 mental health advocates, local
Democrats, and others at Brown University.

He had spent the weekend visiting relatives in Washington before
returning to Rhode Island on Sunday night.

Kennedy checked into the Mayo Clinic on May 5, one day after a
middle-of-the-night car crash near the Capitol that he said he could
not remember. He also had been treated at the clinic over the
Christmas holidays.

The accident has raised questions about whether Kennedy, 38, was
drinking and had received special treatment by police, who did not
conduct field sobriety tests.

Capitol Police cited him for three traffic violations and said he
appeared to be intoxicated. Police said Friday they were still
investigating the incident.

Kennedy called the accident "a wake up call" and said he was grateful
he did not hurt anyone. He said he would continue to receive
addiction treatment.

"Congressman Kennedy's doctors are encouraged by his progress and
have worked with him to put in place a stringent system of after care
that may include periodic visits to Mayo Clinic for continued health
care consultation," the clinic said in a statement released by
Kennedy's office.

The six-term congressman said he had received "an outpouring of
support" while at the clinic.

"Hundreds shared their personal experience with this disease," he
said. Kennedy has been a passionate advocate for improved mental
health care coverage, speaking publicly about his own battles with
depression, alcoholism and substance abuse. As a high school senior,
Kennedy was treated at a drug rehabilitation clinic before he went to
Providence College.

He said Monday that his latest experience "has reaffirmed for me that
the challenge of mental illness is a part of everyone's experience --
whether it has touched an individual, a friend or family member."

Kennedy has been outspoken about wanting to end the stigma of mental
health problems, and he has been praised by mental health
professionals for being open about his personal struggles.

More than four dozen Kennedy supporters, including the presidents of
the Rhode Island medical and psychiatric societies, paid for a
full-page advertisement in The Providence Journal on Monday showing
support for Kennedy.

"No elected official in the country has been more outspoken on behalf
of reducing stigma, gaining parity for mental illness, increasing
access to mental health treatment, and furthering the science of the
brain," the ad said.

Rhode Island Democrats endorsed an absent Kennedy for re-election a
few days after the crash near the Capitol. But state Republicans have
called for him to step down.

"He ought to resign because he can't fulfill his duties as
congressman," said Chuck Newton, Rhode Island Republican Party
spokesman. "We're a small state and we only have two congressmen, so
it really matters if someone can't do the job."

Jack McConnell, a longtime Kennedy friend and adviser, said he's
confident the congressman will overcome any public doubts.

"These first couple of days, he's got a job to do to reassure people
he's committed to the job," said McConnell. "I think people are going
to be receptive to that. When you are up front about your problems,
people tend to cut you slack."

[Material from the Associated Press was used in the preparation of this report]