Macon Recovers, Mercer University host Georgia Recovers Bus stop

Breedlove, who is also over the bus tour, says addiction is an epidemic and they are on this journey to bring awareness to communities.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – September is National Recovery Month and the Georgia Recovers Bus has been on what they call a historic journey planning to make 63 stops total in cities across the state to discuss various things about drug addiction and recovery.

The Tour Bus makes three types of stops, a proclamation stop, policy stop, and celebration stop. Macon was one such stop on Monday considered a policy stop, as Macon Recovers and Mercer University partnered together to hold a panel with local faith leaders and community members as they discussed the impact of addiction and recovery on their faith.

“Different faiths, different perspectives on religion. A room of 108 plus people just really sharing ideas of the role that that faith has in the process of addiction and recovery from addiction,” said Jeff Breedlove, the Strategic Policy Advisor for the Georgia Council for Recovery.

After the panel, members of the community were able to sign the bus before leaving for it’s next stop in Tifton and Valdosta later Monday night.

Breedlove, who is also over the bus tour, says addiction is an epidemic and they are on this journey to bring awareness to communities.

“I think the thing that starts us going on this trip is the reality that this is an epidemic in America and that we are at historic number of deaths, the highest number of deaths for Americans, 18 to 45 is overdose. We’re averaging 200 overdoses a day. So, it’s an epidemic and we have to address it. We have to say in communities that is real, as you know, addiction is, so is recovery and there cannot be stigma. We’ve got to have communities that welcome recovery resources, recovery services, recovery buildings, recovery places, into places like Macon, Bibb County. Every community needs to welcome recovery because it already has addiction,” said Breedlove.

According to a press release, the bus tour is funded by Commissioner Kevin Tanner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and supported by the Georgia General Assembly Working Group on Addiction and Recovery.

If you have taken photos or videos while at the event Breedlove, encourages you to share them using the hashtag #garecovers

For the full list of places they have visited and places they are going to next you can check here.