Teddi Adams, left, poses in front of balloons and a banner at the 2022 Johnson County Recovery Fair. Adams created the Recovery Fair to provide resources and support for those dealing with substance use disorder issues, and is preparing for the second event on Sept. 16 in Franklin. SUBMITTED PHOTO
The impact was greater than ever imagined.
When Teddi Adams committed to planning the inaugural Johnson County Recovery Fair to connect people throughout the area who have been affected by substance use disorder with with resources and support, she was optimistic. She wanted to reach at least some of the local families and individuals struggling with addiction, offering them hope in what can feel like a hopeless situation.
Still, she didn’t know what to expect in the first year.
“Last year was great. We had a lot of providers and vendors, people from the recovery community who are doing big things,” she said. “They were able to network and talk. It was a beautiful thing.”
Buoyed by the encouraging turnout, Adams is ready for year two of the Recovery Fair. The family-friendly event, planned for Sept. 16 at the Franklin Recreation and Cultural Arts Center, will raise awareness about addiction, offer support to individuals and family members impacted by it, remove stigma about substance use disorder and provide resources from a wide variety of local organizations.
At the core of the event is a desire to showcase the role the community plays in recovery.
“It takes a village. Addiction is everywhere. It’s in everyone’s backyard, in everyone’s families. You can’t run from it, and we don’t want people to be ashamed of it,” Adams said. “There are people out there who care. You don’t have to have that stigma or that shame.”
Substance use disorder had thrown Adams’ own life into tumult for decades. Her son, Trevor, had been driven to unfathomable depths through addiction. He started taking meth and heroin, and was in and out of jails, prisons and rehab multiple times, Adams said.
After yet another relapse and arrest, he was allowed by the courts to take part in the Wheeler Mission Hunt Training Center program — a long-term residential program offered for those struggling with addiction. The program, which is held at a 285-acre property near Bloomington, helped turn his life around, Adams said.
“He is working a full-time job, getting his finances in order and making so many future plans. Most importantly, he is involved and present in (his daughter) Harper’s life. He has discovered things like the world of being a ‘dance dad,’” she said.
Trevor regularly does community outreach and shares his story to help others. It was his idea to create a resource fair centered around substance use disorder in Franklin.
“We keep fighting because I know there are still so many people struggling,” Adams said. “I know that maintaining sobriety will forever be a daily struggle. I know there are other moms out there who still jump every time the phone rings. I know there are still babies out there waiting for their parents to come home.
“I want people to know they aren’t alone. They don’t need to sit in their fear or be ashamed. There is an entire community of resources and people to see them through.”
In organizing the first Recovery Fair, Adams reached out to organizations providing different types of treatment for substance use disorder. She also contacted groups that work with the kinds of issues triggering substance use: lack of housing, lack of employment, lack of insurance.
The response from providers and local agencies was astounding, she said. Now she wants to build on that.
“We didn’t have a lot of people from the community who may have benefited from the services. I’ve really tried to get the word out to get more people who are either ready to begin recovery, are curious about recovery and in the midst of recovery, to try and get them some more support,” she said.
Once again, Adams had found a good mix of vendors and agencies to take part. The Recovery Fair will have information on all types of issues, as well as testimonies from people who are in recovery. Free food and activities for kids and families will be featured, and there will be giveaways throughout the day.
“We’re really excited to do it again,” she said. “It’s a very casual and relaxed atmosphere. Everything is being offered free, and all of these people are taking time out because we care,” Adams said. “No one is there for profit, no one is there for fame. They just want to help.”
IF YOU GO
Recovery Fair
What: A free family-friendly event bringing about awareness about addiction, connecting individuals and families with resources, information, community outlets and other pathways to recovery.
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16
Where: Franklin Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, 396 Branigin Blvd.
Who: The event is open to the public.
Information: Reach out to Teddi Adams at 317-340-9568 or via email at [email protected]
