Families impacted by addiction need support, guidance, and tools to help their loved ones—and themselves—heal. For over 20 years, Allies in Recovery has provided resources to thousands of families. But now, due to government funding cuts, this vital program is at risk of shutting down.
Your voice can make a difference. Whether you’re reaching out to legislators, organizations such as recovery centers and hospitals, or your personal network, this toolkit gives you everything you need to advocate for families who rely on Allies in Recovery. Below, you’ll find:
- A press release outlining the urgent need for support
- A fact sheet with key data on Allies’ impact
- Email & phone scripts to make outreach simple
- A Facebook post you can easily share
- A tool to find your legislators’ contact info
Take Action Today
Scroll down to access these resources and help ensure families continue receiving the support they need. We deeply appreciate your time and effort.
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
If you’ve been affected by addiction in your family, you are welcome to use these scripts to reach out to legislators or your network:
For Families- Email & Phone Scripts
Are you an ally supporting families affected by substance use? Here are scripts for your outreach:
For Supporters- Email & Phone Scripts
TAKE ACTION
Find Your Legislators
Easily locate contact information for your elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels:
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
You can also call Congress directly:
U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard: (202) 225-3121
U.S. Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Spread the Word
Share on Facebook
Press Release Full Text
| Contact: Allies in Recovery 57 Prospect St #2, Northampton, MA 01060 413.387.9395 support@alliesinrecovery.net www.alliesinrecovery.net |
For Immediate Release April 17, 2025 |
Government Cuts Hit Local Addiction Work:
Families on the Front Line Abandoned
Raise your hand if you know of a proven way to help someone in the throes of addiction.
Look—someone’s raising their hand. In fact, thousands of families are raising their hands. What helped them get two-thirds of their loved ones to reduce substance use, enter treatment, and stay in recovery six times longer? Allies in Recovery, a proven program that trains families to guide their loved ones into lasting recovery. These families are living proof that healing from addiction is within everyone’s reach.
On March 3, just 42 days into the Trump administration, Massachusetts abruptly terminated its essential support for Allies in Recovery, a lifeline for thousands of families for the last 21 years, most of whom can participate for free thanks to that funding. Allies’ contract is now set to expire June 30. If that happens, its vital work will come to an end.
Abandoning these families will leave them without the tools they desperately need for lasting recovery and stability, and risks reversing hard-earned declines in deaths from opioids and other drugs.
In Massachusetts alone, over 3,500 families have engaged with the science-backed CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) approach through Allies in Recovery, creating informed and empowered individuals who can effectively guide their loved ones toward care and sustained recovery.
Families are the first responders in the opioid epidemic. They are the most plentiful and dedicated labor force in our national struggle with substance use. They are uniquely motivated and work for free. Training family members is the best investment we can possibly make.
Since its founding, Allies in Recovery has been at the forefront of the fight against substance use disorder, successfully implementing the CRAFT method through a scalable, self-paced eLearning program that includes live groups, blogs, podcasts, individual guidance, and access to specialists. It’s a success story in every sense of the word.
Allies is sounding the alarm about these cuts across the Commonwealth—and using an advocacy toolkit to mobilize families and supporters to contact their representatives and demand their reversal. “The families we work with have proven their dedication and effectiveness time and again,” says Allies CEO and founder Dominique Simon-Levine, “and we’ve been helping more of them every year. Our message to policymakers is simple: don’t throw this progress away.”
With nearly 50% of U.S. families reporting having loved ones with substance use disorder—and half of those loved ones initially resistant to help—the importance of continuing and strengthening family-focused support programs cannot be overstated. Simply put, training and supporting families saves lives, rebuilds community, and ensures long-term recovery. Cutting off that support is negligent, impractical, inefficient, and inhumane.
To find out more about Allies in Recovery and its make-or-break search for new funding, contact Dominique Simon-Levine at support@alliesinrecovery.net.