TURNING LIVES AROUND

El Paso Woman Will Help Lead Recovery Rally In N.Y.

EL PASO -- The state of Texas will be represented by El Pasoan Pat
Guerin on Saturday as she helps lead a huge rally of recovering
addicts and supporters across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

Guerin and 50 others were selected to represent their states and
Washington, D.C., in the 2009 Recovery Rally, which celebrates the
20th anniversary of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.

The group of 51 delegates, made up of people who have been in
recovery from drug or alcohol addiction for at least 10 years, will
lead more than 5,000 people across the bridge for the event. They'll
also share their stories of recovery.

Guerin's sobriety began 39 years ago this October.

She was an alcoholic living in Dallas when she began climbing out
from under her addiction.

"I wouldn't be alive today if someone hadn't helped me," she said.

Guerin, 71, said her recovery helped encourage her to help others
working to overcome their own addictions.

"Addiction is not a moral issue. It's a disease," said Guerin, who
is the Access to Recovery coordinator for the Recovery Alliance in
El Paso. "I know that's difficult for people to understand because
of the behaviors that go with it, but recovery is possible
and people can recover and become part of the community again and
make a big difference."

Guerin was a licensed chemical dependency counselor for several
years. In addition to her current role at the Recovery Alliance, she
is an advocate in drug court and helps recovering addicts
individually and in groups.

Addiction is an problem that goes beyond her own experience as "a
plain old alcoholic."

"Three of my four children are addicted alcoholics and one of them
died of this disease," Guerin said. "Ever since his death, which was
a long time ago, I got more proactive."

She nominated herself as a recovery delegate to participate in the
rally and is ecstatic about being selected.

"I'm excited and a little stunned," the Upper Valley resident said.
"I'm at an age and a stage in my life where I really don't care what
anybody thinks of me. I want them to see people who are recovering
that are just normal people living their lives."

Lydia Smith, development director for the Recovery Alliance, called
Guerin a perfect choice to represent the state.

"She has seen this disease in every aspect of its manifestation and
has truly evolved into a human being that is committed to service
and committed to really carrying the message," Smith said.

Guerin and the 50 other recovery delegates were selected by the A&E
television network, in partnership with the National Council on
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Faces and Voices of Recovery,
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, and
the 2009 Recovery Month Planning Partners.

The A&E network has increased its efforts to raise awareness about
drug and alcohol addiction through programs like "The Cleaner" and
the documentary series "Intervention." Both deal with addiction.

When Guerin returns from the network's rally in New York, she and
the Recovery Alliance will be gearing up for its own local rally on Sept. 26.

"It's incumbent upon the community as a whole to acknowledge this is
a very prominent reality of not only our community in El Paso, but
the nation as a whole," Smith said.

The event is not only for people in recovery and their supporters,
Smith said, but also for the entire city.

It will include guest speakers and information from several local
agencies. Smith said copies of the alliance's recovery resource
guide would be available at the event.

"This is pervasive. It's not just people living under a bridge,"
Smith said. "The misconception is that addictive illness is a
certain strata of our socioeconomic population, and it's not. This
is an equal opportunity disease.