Festival celebrates 'Recovery'

In an effort to send a message that recovery from drug and alcohol abuse is possible, members of the Las Vegas drug treatment and prevention community will host a "Recovery Works" festival Sunday.

"Some people don't belive recovery works, we're trying to show it does," said Vilius Paskevicius, program administrator at the treatment center for the Economic Opportunity Board in Clark County.

Although the event has been celebrated nationally for the past seven years, this is the first of its kind in Nevada.

Sponsored by local treatment providers including EOB and Healthy families, the festival will provide entertainment, games, booths and speakers and will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Lorenzi Park picnic areas B, C and D.

The event is also an effort to raise awareness to the need for more drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Southern Nevada.

Paskevicius said 10 percent of Nevadans are in need of drug and alcohol treatment, but facilities and funding are scarce. Nevada ranks 42nd in the nation in funding for drug and alcohol abuse.

One way to generate funds is to increase the excise liquor tax, he said, adding that an increase by 5 cents a drink would raise $50 million, which could fund drug and alcohol prevention and treatment programs.

Petitions will be available at the event. A total of 45,000 signatures are needed.

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