Father Joseph Martin’s lifetime of Work in the Addiction Treatment Professiona Honored at the NAADAC Annual Conference

August 22, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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FATHER MARTIN’S ASHLEY

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FATHER MARTIN HONORED AT NAADAC CONFERENCE

Father Joseph Martin’s lifetime of work in the addiction treatment field was honored with the President’s Award at the NAADAC annual conference.

HAVRE DE GRACE, MARYLAND (August 22, 2009)— NAADAC (National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors) posthumously honored Father Joseph C. Martin, S.S., with a President’s Award at their recent annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The award celebrates Father Martin’s life work in addiction treatment and education, as well as the legacy of compassionate treatment he established at his treatment center Father Martin’s Ashley and for others who watch his video lectures. This is the first NAADAC President’s Award to be presented.

NAADAC President Patricia Greer said, “We are so pleased to be able to honor Father Martin’s work. He made alcoholism more manageable by creating a picture of the disease’s power upon individuals, families and communities through his storytelling. The wisdom and humor that he awakened in his audience was a unifying experience. He taught us that by the Grace of God, the 12-step program and good counseling, recovery is possible.”

Chris Shea, Clinical Director of Father Martin’s Ashley treatment center accepted the award. In addition to thanking NAADAC for honoring Father Martin he offered these comments, “Father Martin devoted his life to helping people in addiction find their way to recovery. He espoused a philosophy of love and respect as the vehicles, along with sound therapeutic treatment, to heal an addict or alcoholic. I’m sure that he is smiling down on all us right now because he is pleased to be honored by an organization that so embodies the passion and understanding that people struggling with chemical addiction need.”

Father Martin co-founded a treatment center, Father Martin’s Ashley, in 1984 that has provided treatment to more than 32,000 and continues to offer dignified inpatient treatment. After he passed away in March 2009, letters and messages came from hundreds of Father Martin’s former patients, colleagues in the field and many people who only knew him by his videos.

Fr. Joseph Martin touched hundreds of thousands of lives around the world both directly and indirectly with his work. NAADAC recognizes his impact on the addiction treatment professional community, and the President’s Award celebrates his achievements.

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ABOUT FATHER MARTIN’S ASHLEY: Father Martin’s Ashley is a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of alcoholism and chemical dependence. A 503(b) non-profit organization accredited by The Joint Commission and located on a 147 acre campus in Havre de Grace, Maryland, Father Martin’s Ashley has, for the past 25 years, worked to heal addicts and help their families with compassion, dignity, respect, spirituality and the principles of the 12-step programs. Father Martin’s Ashley has treated more than 30,000 patients and offers inpatient treatment as well as sobriety enrichment, DWI, family and children’s educational programs.

ABOUT NAADAC: NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, is the largest organization for addiction-focused health care professionals. Founded in 1974, NAADAC is committed to the professional development of individuals who treat and prevent addiction. NAADAC also works to improve the provision of treatment services through education and advocacy programs. “We help people recover their lives.”