AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences, Huntsville, AL (2026)

02/10/2026

We are proud to welcome Lisa Bright, CEO of the Will Bright Foundation, as one of our featured speakers at ALRAD 2026, speaking about Voices for Non-Opioid Choices.

Voices for Non-Opioid Choices is a bipartisan coalition advocating for safer pain care by expanding access to non-opioid pain management options and reducing reliance on addictive opioids. The coalition drives federal policy like the NOPAIN Act, its follow-on Alternatives to PAIN Act, and the NOPAIN for Veterans Act to ensure patients, including veterans, have meaningful alternatives to opioids.

• NOPAIN Act: This bill promotes reimbursement parity for non-opioid treatments to prevent opioid exposure. It has bipartisan support in both chambers, with sponsors and co-sponsors including Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) among others.

• Alternatives to PAIN Act: A Medicare-focused bill to reduce cost barriers and utilization restrictions for non-opioid therapies. It has about 30 Senate co-sponsors, including Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), and is supported in the House by Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) along with bipartisan support from other members of the Senate Finance Committee.

• NOPAIN for Veterans Act: Legislation to require non-opioid pain medications on the VA formulary for veterans. The House bill has 19 co-sponsors with additional Senate support is building.

Voices’ partners include numerous health, recovery, clinical, and patient advocacy organizations working together to broaden non-opioid pain care access nationwide.

About Lisa Bright:

Lisa Bright is the mother, founder and CEO of the Will Bright Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the barriers between addiction and recovery through awareness, education, advocacy, and transitional living. After losing her son, Will, to a he**in overdose, Lisa and her husband transformed personal tragedy into a mission of hope and restoration for others.

Lisa served as an elected Trussville City Councilor and Council President and has worked extensively at the local, state, and national levels on opioid policy and recovery initiatives. She is a national board member of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices and has spoken on Capitol Hill advocating for legislation to address the opioid crisis and currently serves on Governor Ivey’s Opioid Task Force.

A former business owner with 24 years of entrepreneurial experience, Lisa brings a strategic, compassionate, and results-driven approach to leadership. She is also a co-founder of Huskies Together, focused on student mental health, and was recognized on Positive Maturity’s Top 50 Over 50 list. Lisa and her husband, Bill, have two daughters and four grandchildren.

— Have you registered yet for Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day (ALRAD 2026)?

Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alabama-recovery-advocacy-day-alrad-2026-tickets-1970276605365

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026
AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences
National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health
SAMHSA

02/09/2026

We are pleased to welcome Jason Alley as a featured speaker at ALRAD 2026!

About Jason Alley:

A Huntsville native, Jason Alley returned to his roots following his service in the United States Air Force and has since become a dedicated recovery advocate and leader in the community. He currently serves as the Ministry Leader for Lakewood Celebrate Recovery, where he is deeply committed to the principle that community and faith are essential to lasting change. Jason works to provide a safe, welcoming environment for those seeking freedom from life's "hurts, hang-ups, and habits," and his work through Our Giving Well reflects his passion for expanding recovery resources and support systems across the state of Alabama.

Jason is a firm believer in the transformative power of the Celebrate Recovery model and its unique ability to foster holistic restoration. He champions the strength found in vulnerability and emphasizes the vital importance of lived experience in advocacy work. By bridging the gap between local ministry and statewide recovery initiatives, Jason strives to empower individuals and families to break the cycles of addiction and find renewed purpose in their journey toward wellness.

Outside of his work in recovery, Jason remains an explorer at heart. He and his wife, Deborah, frequently travel the globe, from the tropical shores of the Caribbean to the historic sights of the Mediterranean. Back home in Huntsville, Jason fuels his sense of adventure as a motorcycle enthusiast and a regular at local sporting events. For Jason, these hobbies aren't just pastimes—they are essential practices that keep him grounded and energized for his continued mission in advocacy.

Join us on March 4th for Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day! Register to attend this free event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alabama-recovery-advocacy-day-alrad-2026-tickets-1970276605365

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026
Lakewood Celebrate Recovery
AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences
National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health
SAMHSA

02/09/2026

We are honored to welcome Bridgett & Friends and The Friends Center as a featured Platinum Sponsor for ALRAD 2026!

The Friends Center envisions a world in which every woman is emotionally stable, spiritually mature, and financially independent. We are a 501c3 nonprofit located in rural Washington County, Alabama. Our mission is to help women recover from adverse life experiences that lead to chronic poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, or substance abuse.

Bridgett & Friends is a Christ-centered, evidence-based recovery program for women. The first 49 days of this 6-month program are offered at little to no cost to the resident. The Friends Village is a sober living community of tiny homes for women in long-term recovery. Both of these Friends Center programs are located on ten acres of peaceful, country living.

Operating with a high standard of ethics and utilizing the best practices for recovery, The Friends Center is certified as a Level 3 AARR (Alabama Alliance of Recovery Residences) home. The Friends Center is also a proud member of the Association for Christian Recovery Ministries (ACRM).

Visit www.thefriendscenter.com or call 251-829-6507 for referrals or our online application.

*** Be sure to visit The Friends Center at Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day! Learn more at https://alrad.info/

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026
AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences
National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health
SAMHSA
Bridgett & Friends

02/08/2026

We are pleased to welcome New Direction Counseling Inc. as a Gold Sponsor for ALRAD 2026!

Don't miss out on this incredible day in Montgomery to network and learn! Learn more at https://alrad.info/

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026
AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences
National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health
SAMHSA
New Direction Counseling Inc.

02/08/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Debbi Metzger, State Opioid Coordinator of Governor Ivey's Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council, as one of our featured speakers at Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day (ALRAD 2026)!

About Debbi Metzger:
Debbi Metzger is the State Opioid Coordinator with the Alabama Department of Mental Health.

She is a career Counselor and Administrator with 35 years of experience in the direct care treatment setting – primarily in outpatient and residential treatment services.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling, and another in Religious Education. Debbi is a National Board-certified counselor, a Master’s Addiction Counselor, and holds a certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor with the Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.

Debbi was previously employed with the Substance Abuse Programs of UAB, Chilton Shelby Mental Health Centers, Bradford Health Services, and Alethea House, Inc.

She has served in Administrative and Clinical leadership roles for the past 25 years. Her work with the Alabama Department of Mental Health in the Substance Use Division has included managerial oversight of Alabama Opioid Treatment Programs, and the development of training modules used to equip providers across the state.

She is the current President of the Alabama School of Alcohol and Drug Studies (ASADS).

Debbi enjoys speaking engagements and training on motivational interviewing, CBT and Contingency Management, Opioid use and impact in Alabama, patient care, needs of adolescents, family relationships and communication, and wellness.
She currently works as a grant manager at ADMH overseeing funding for the OD2A.S, SOR, and First Responder grants.
She is the facilitator of the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council, responsible for the annual report to the Governor on the Opioid impact in Alabama and the state opioid abatement plan.

Debbi is mother to two adult children: Ethan Sims (married to Emily Morris), who is in leadership with the Chick-fil-A Corporation; and Sarah Sims Tomberlin (married to Luke Tomberlin), a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University and currently practicing in Tupelo, Mississippi. Debbi has one grandson, Reid, who is the keeper of her heart!

Debbi is an avid SEC football fan, loves gardening, reading, riding horses, and long, quiet weekends in rustic cabins or deep-sea fishing off Florida beaches.

The love of her life, Jim, is a decorated Strategic Command Officer retired from the US Air Force who served in the Gulf and Cold Wars. Jim is also a Captain on the high seas – which makes catching large fish and crazy adventures not only possible but highly probable! (...we like really big fish and the salty sea air, so come sail away with us!)

--- Plan now to attend ALRAD 2026 in Montgomery! Register today at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../alabama-recovery-advocacy...

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026
AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences
National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health

SAMHSA

Learn more about ALRAD 2026 at https://alrad.info/

02/07/2026

We are honored to welcome Dr. Ellen Robertson, Business Manager of the Alabama School of Alcohol and other Drug Studies (ASADS), as one of our featured speakers for ALRAD 2026!

About Dr. Ellen Robertson:

Ellen Robertson, Ph.D., MCHES, holds a Ph.D. in Health Education and Health Promotion from The University of Alabama and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES).

Ellen currently works as the Training and Education Project Director at VitAL and the Business Manager of the Alabama School of Alcohol and other Drug Studies (ASADS). She previously worked in San Diego, CA, at the SDSU Institute for Public Health (IPH), where she served as Associate Director, and at Scripps Research, where she served as the Associate Director of Community Engagement.

At the IPH, Dr. Robertson oversaw collaborative public health research and service projects with community-based and governmental agencies across California. At Scripps Research, she worked closely with researchers to emphasize integrating community engagement into all research projects.

Dr. Robertson previously served as a Project Manager with VitAL, leading statewide needs assessments with healthcare providers and health professionals to evaluate their knowledge and practice gaps related to behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment.

She also played a key role in developing and delivering professional education and training to support evidence-based practices in behavioral health.

Plan now to join us for ALRAD 2026! Learn more at https://alrad.info/

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026

National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health
SAMHSA
Vital

02/07/2026

We are excited to welcome Jeff Breedlove, CEO of the American Addiction Recovery Association, as one of our featured speakers for ALRAD 2026!

About Jeff Breedlove:
Jeff Breedlove serves as CEO of the American Addiction Recovery Association and strategic policy advisor for the Georgia Council for Recovery and the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association.

Jeff was announced as a member of the 2023 Atlanta Business Chronicle Power 10: Health Care List as one of the 10 most powerful health care leaders in Georgia.

Jeff was awarded a personal proclamation from Governor Brain Kemp in September 2023 as an outstanding advocate for peer led recovery in Georgia.

Jeff was awarded Georgia School of Addiction Studies Neil Campbell Recovery Champion Award, The Erick Allen Recovery Advocate of the Year for Georgia from the Georgia Council for Recovery, The Recovery Champion Award at the DBHDD All CPS Conference, and has received numerous Recovery Leadership Awards from organizations across Georgia.

Jeff serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia School of Addiction Studies and the Regional Advisory Board for the Rx Summit (the largest addiction summit in the United States), the Board of Advisors of the Christopher Wolf Campaign, the Board of Directors of the Georgia Faith and Recovery Collaboration, the Board of Advisors of Georgians for Responsible Ma*****na Policy.

In the past, Jeff has served as:
• Chief of Staff for DeKalb County Commissioner Nancy Jester.
• Senior staff member to Congressman Bob Barr in the historic 104th Congress and again in the 105th Congress.
• Deputy Director for the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development for Governor Nathan Deal
• Policy analyst for the Georgia State Senate

Jeff was selected to serve as a volunteer for the G-8 Summit on Sea Island, Georgia. He has served as a staff vice-chair for The National Conference of State Legislatures on the Transportation Committee and as a member of The Council of State Governments Southern Legislative Conference Committee on Economic Development, Transportation and Cultural Affairs.

Jeff also served as the Georgia state director for The American Council of Young Political Leaders and was the former Georgia state director Sister Cities International and a member of the City of Atlanta Sister City Commission. Jeff Served as a Commissioner and Assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts. Jeff served as PTA President at Imagine International Academy and Vice President of the PTA at Maynard Jackson High School.

Jeff is married to Kathryn Ballou; they reside in the Grant Park neighborhood in Atlanta. They have a son, Lawrence Foster “Jack” Breedlove, who was born in Gansu, The People’s Republic of China. Jeff is a person in long-term recovery with a passion to share his story, so others know Recovery is Real.

--- Plan now to join us on March 4th in Montgomery for ALRAD 2026! Register to attend this amazing free event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alabama-recovery-advocacy-day-alrad-2026-tickets-1970276605365

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026
AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences
National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health
SAMHSA
American Addiction Recovery Association
Georgia Council for Recovery
Southeast Addiction Recovery Coalition

02/06/2026

We are honored to welcome Cheryl Plato-Bryant, State Coordinator for the Alabama Court Referral Programs with the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, as a featured speaker for Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day (ALRAD 2026)!

About Cheryl Plato-Bryant:

Cheryl Plato-Bryant is employed with the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Development from Troy University.

She served for 13 years as a Court Referral Officer for the 15th Judicial Circuit under the leadership of Retired Circuit Presiding Judge Charles Price and Retired District Judge Lynn Clardy Bright.

In 2007, Ms. Plato-Bryant transitioned to the Administrative Office of Courts as a Court Management Analyst IV. In 2008, she was selected to serve as the State Coordinator for the Alabama Court Referral Programs. In this role, she has conducted statewide training for judges, clerks, court specialists, judicial assistants, and other court officials throughout Alabama. She provided oversight and support to more than 110 Certified Court Referral Officers, 50 Monitoring Specialists, over 100 Certified Court Referral Education Instructors, and treatment court personnel across the state.

Ms. Plato-Bryant has served on several committees, including the Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies (ASADS), the Alabama Opioids Council, the Alabama Impaired Driving Prevention Council, and the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Task Force. She has more than 30 years of experience in the substance abuse field.

Join us on March 4th for ALRAD 2026! Register today to attend this free event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alabama-recovery-advocacy-day-alrad-2026-tickets-1970276605365

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026

Alabama Association of Drug Court Professionals
National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health
SAMHSA

02/05/2026

We are honored to welcome Director Cam Ward of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles as one of our featured speakers for ALRAD 2026!

About Director Ward:
Cam Ward has more than four decades of experience in various leadership capacities as a public servant in the State of Alabama. Most recently, Governor Kay Ivey appointed Ward to her Cabinet to serve as Director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.

As a member of the Alabama House of Representatives and State Senate for 20 years, Ward sought bipartisan solutions to complex challenges facing the state – from championing economic development initiatives and criminal justice reform to ensuring health coverage for children with autism. He chaired Alabama’s Senate Judiciary Committee and served as President of the Alabama Law Institute.

As Director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles, Ward continues working to build a stronger state. The Bureau has embraced strategies to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for justice-involved individuals. He helped launch initiatives like the PREP Center, a 90-day program that provides mental health assistance, substance use disorder treatment, education and workforce readiness services, for those leaving prison or on probation. With well over 450 graduates, the PREP Center boasts a zero percent recidivism rate.

Ward was born in Milton, Florida, and is a graduate of Troy University. He studied law at Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham. Following graduation, Ward was selected for a Marshall Memorial Fellowship, which afforded him the opportunity to study at several capitals throughout Europe. He is active in various national organizations, including as board president and chairman for the CSG Justice Center and a member of the American Village Advisory Board and the Troy University Board of Trustees.

Ward is married to the former Lindsey Clements and has two daughters and a son.

*** Join us on March 4th in Montgomery for the 3rd annual Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day! Learn more about how you can participate at https://alrad.info/

Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day aka ALRAD 2026
AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences
National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Alabama Department of Mental Health
Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles
SAMHSA

AARR - Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences

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