GEORGETOWN, DE
Talking about substance use disorders can be difficult for those struggling to maintain sobriety as well as for their families, but it doesn’t have to be that way. On Saturday, September 14, 2024 atTAcK addiction, a statewide nonprofit founded in 2013 to support those in recovery and their families, will host the first Soberfest at Hudson Fields in Milton as a way to bring people together to support each other.
Doug Moore, Board Member for the organization said, “atTAcK addiction has done so much for the recovery and substance use disorder community in New Castle County. We’re really excited to continue to grow our reach here in Sussex County. The first annual Soberfest is a great event to do just that.”
Soberfest, which has free admission, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hudson Fields, 29763 Eagle Crest Road, Milton. Highlights include food, live music, bounce houses for children, arts and crafts, and a cornhole tournament sponsored by the Oxford Houses of Delaware. The community festival will include more than 30 organizations and vendors providing direct resources for those in recovery and their families, as well as great entertainment. Live music will be provided by The Leftovers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and The Girls Room from 2-4 p.m.
“The festival is not only a place where people can come together in an alcohol- and drug-free environment, but it is meant to foster community connection and care, so that people don’t feel isolated in their recovery,” said Dawn Hess-Fischer, Chairperson of this year’s Soberfest. “We created Soberfest as a way for the Sussex County community to unite, celebrate recovery, learn about local resources, and see that there is hope in recovery.”
“Our goal is to continue celebrating recovery, while educating the public about this disease,” Hess-Fischer said. “At atTAcK addiction, we work every day to erase the stigma surrounding addiction, especially here in Sussex County.”
While many in recovery have sponsors and counselors through programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, those in recovery as well as their families need a support network of friends to lean on as well. This isn’t just about providing a clinical pathway, although that is key. It’s also about destigmatizing speaking about addiction and finding supportive community.
For more information about Soberfest and this day of fun, family and support in Sussex County, please contact karl.fischer@attackaddiction.org. And join us at Hudson Fields on Saturday, Sept. 14, for this free festival event.
While a wave of overdoses in April and May of this year in Sussex County once again brought to the forefront that there is an ever-changing face of substance use disorders, Delaware actually saw the first decrease statewide in overdose deaths in more than a decade in 2023. In 2022, 537 individuals were lost to overdose statewide in 2022, while 527 people died in 2023. Sussex County was the only county that saw an increase, going from 117 individuals lost in 2022 to 119 deaths in 2023.
If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, call the Delaware Hope Line at 833-9-HOPEDE (833-946-7333); visit HelpIsHereDE.com; or contact atTAcK addiction at 302-365-5221 or info@attackaddiction.org.
atTAcK addiction, a statewide nonprofit that is run almost entirely by volunteers, raises awareness of the disease of addiction, assists individuals and families with information and resources, and supports people living in recovery. The organization owns five recovery residences in Delaware, connects people to recovery housing scholarships, provides free Narcan training and educational sessions, advocates for legislation, raises awareness at community events, and operates a Resource Center open to the community at 210 Peoples Plaza, Newark. To learn more about atTAcK addiction, visit atTAcKaddiction.org.