Brevard Recovery Fest Celebrates Resources for Addictions, Mental Health

August 1, 2023 | By Maria Sonnenberg

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It’s a day of fun with purpose. It’s inspirational. It’s musical. It’s family-friendly. It’s free. It’s Brevard Recovery Fest.

A collaborative effort of treatment and recovery providers dedicated to ending the stigma of addictions and mental health care spearheaded by Executive Director Laura McCarthy, Brevard Recovery Fest was launched last year to celebrate National Recovery Month. The local event champions hope, health and joy, and wraps it in a delightful package that includes food, music, t-shirts, giveaways, demonstrations from the Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, Wings of Grace flight simulators, inflatable games, face painting, magic and more. Everyone is welcome.

This year’s Fest takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, at Wickham Park’s Regional Pavilion, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne.

The festive, non-judgmental atmosphere helps to comfortably raise awareness of lifesaving resources and information about substance abuse, mental health treatment and recovery services.

“We don’t want people to suffer alone when resources are available,” said Maria Bledsoe, of Central Florida Cares Health System.

Substance use disorders and behavioral addictions can lead to serious health issues and death. While they impact the individual’s emotional and physical health, they also can affect generations within a family. They break relationships and create financial chaos.

Organizer Laura McCarthy notes that, on average, one in 10 persons struggle with the disease of addiction.

“Percentage treated? Tough question, because, unfortunately, the only stat that seems to be recorded these days is death to (overdose) or poisoning,” she said.

Addiction is a disease — not a lifestyle choice — that hijacks key brain regions designed to help us survive.

“A common misperception is that addiction is a choice or moral problem, and all you have to do is stop,” said Dr. George Koob, director of NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Nothing could be further from the truth. The brain actually changes with addiction, and it takes a good deal of work to get it back to its normal state. The more drugs or alcohol you’ve taken, the more disruptive it is to the brain.”

Fortunately, addiction is a treatable disease, and with the right support, recovery for life is possible.

McCarthy herself knows all too well the overwhelming challenges addiction brings, and how critical it is to seek help sooner than later. A retired licensed mental health counselor and master’s certified addictions specialist, McCarthy has been a member of the recovery community since 1985 and is the author of “Mess to Majestic: A True Story of Recovery and Healing from Trauma, Shame and Addictions with Biblical and Clinical Insights.” The book, available through amazon.com, tells her story of transformation from atheist to believer, from addicted to recovered, from traumatized to triumphant.

After close to four decades in recovery, McCarthy’s enthusiasm to help hasn’t waned, and she has channeled it into Brevard Recovery Fest.

“My passion is not going to go away,” she said.

The event brings together others who, like McCarthy, are ready to assist others break the chains of addiction. Participating are more than 100 community partners that include Circles of Care, Unconditional Love, Inc., Hospitality Life, Brevard Prevention Coalition, You Matter Counseling Services and many others.

The entertainment portion of the Fest features music by the Neil Ricketts Band, Rich Brown Blues, Recovery Church Delray and Indian River County band Group Therapy.

Free grazing will be provided by Pizza Gallery and Squid Lips.

Proceeds from the event will be funneled toward client care grants.

“We always try to give back to the community,” McCarthy said.

For information, visit brevardrecoveryfest.org.