May 29, 2023
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC
May 29, 1986 I was giving a speech. Within the first 5 minutes of the speech I received an urgent phone call that my dad died at work while smoking crack cocaine. This is the 37th year Anniversary of his death. Two weeks after my fathers death college All American Basketball player LenBias died while snorting cocaine in celebration of his being drafted number one by the Boston Celtics. Following Bias's death, Congress intensified the war on drugs and the U.S. prison population increased from 400 thousand inmates in 1985 to 2.5 million in 2005. Disproportinately African American men with substance use disorders.
Dad, I spent the next 3 decades, speaking, advocating, writing books and articles on substance use disorders treatment and recovery for African Americans in honor of you. All of the speeches and materials I collected, culminated in the creation of this online museum. This year the Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery was honored with the 2023 Faces And Voices of Recovery, Innovations In Recovery Award. I dedicate this award to you! Your son
Mark