These men and women have struggled with the disease of addiction and now, as Hope Ambassadors, they are inspiring others to join with them on their recovery journey.

In the midst of the opioid and addiction crisis raging across the United States, the work we do at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit is all centered around one goal: to create effective strategies for prevention, treatment, and recovery that will ultimately save lives.

The 2024 Rx Summit will be held April 1 – 4 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, bringing together a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders “from federal to family” in the fight against drug misuse and addiction. More than 1 million lives have been lost since the start of the opioid epidemic, and overdoses and deaths involving synthetic opioids have reached record rates.

One powerful way we are working toward our goal is by sharing a message of hope — it is possible to recover from addiction.

This is why we created the Hope Ambassadors program, to highlight the stories of people in recovery, and those who have influenced the recovery journey of others. They are the “why,” the reason we do what we do. These men and women have struggled with the disease of addiction and now, as Hope Ambassadors, they are inspiring others to join with them on their recovery journey.

Our 2024 Hope Ambassadors are:

• Arik Avaneszadeh, owner, Omnia Recovery Treatment Center
• Brandon Conlin, Director of Peer Support Services and Director of Kentucky NPRA
• Samantha Dowden, Peer Support Coordinator
• Willie Pearl Evans, Prevention Program Administrator
• Shannon Hall, CADC1-KPSS
• Christina Hunter, KPSS
• Adam Larkin, CEO, Gitt Apparel
• Rachel Loveday, LCSW, LADACII, CPRS, team leader
• Aisian Lucas, Lead Liaison
• Joshua Maggard, Office Manager
• Pete Nielsen, CEO, addiction treatment, prevention, recovery, and harm reduction advocacy
• Jessica Stanley, Overdose Prevention Specialist

There are many forms of recovery, and there are many people who play key roles in making it possible. The work we do at Rx Summit through sessions, workshops, and networking gives our community the power to create more stories of recovery and thus a stronger sense of hope.

“I am a mother in recovery who used drugs while pregnant with my first child,” Stanley said. I came into recovery when he was 1 and never thought I would live to be a mother. Today, I am a mother, harm reduction advocate, in long term recovery and a social media influencer. I want people to know that recovery is possible, and it is happening every single day in our communities.”

“I became a Hope Ambassador to honor my word,” Dowden said. “I promised myself if I could get sober that I would carry that message to others as well. I have been given a second chance as a daughter, mother, sister, employee and student in recovery and I just want to share with others that there is an amazing life after addiction.”

At Rx Summit, you can meet the Hope Ambassadors at our booth in the Exhibit Hall (booth No. 347), and we are also sharing their testimonials via displays throughout the hall.

Through our dedication and collaboration at Rx Summit, our community has the power to create more stories of recovery and thus a stronger sense of hope. We look forward to sharing more recovery stories and inspirations for hope at Rx and Illicit Drug Summit 2024 in Atlanta.

Are you interested in becoming a 2025 Hope Ambassador? To tell your story, visit: hmpglobalevents.com/rx-summit/hope-ambassadors

For more information or to register for Rx Summit, visit: rx-summit.com.