Avenues Recovery Partners With the City of New Orleans to Provide Sober Safe Spots During Mardi Gras Parades

NEW ORLEANS, February 14, 2022 (Newswire.com) - The 2022 Mardi Gras season is here! The spirit of Mardi Gras has been a part of the fabric of New Orleans for over 100 years and is a festival that everyone in the city eagerly awaits. It brings great joy and revelry in the City and is something everyone should be able to participate in. However, for people who are in drug and alcohol addiction recovery, trigger risks are everywhere.   

This year, Avenues Recovery alumni are teaming up with Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City of New Orleans to create a safe and supportive atmosphere for festival-goers to take part in Mardi Gras while still celebrating their commitment to sobriety. Mayor Cantrell and Avenues Recovery, a national provider of substance abuse treatment centers, announced today the establishment of "Sober Safe-Spots" strategically positioned along parade routes.

"My administration has been committed to meeting our people where they are. The health and well-being of our residents and visitors is critical to ensuring a safe and successful Mardi Gras," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "Our partnership with Avenues Recovery gives us an opportunity to remove barriers faced by sober individuals that may prevent them from enjoying all that the City of New Orleans has to offer. We are excited to host an all-inclusive Carnival celebration."

"Mardi Gras is such a big part of our culture here," said Ashley Duncan, Alumni and Intake Coordinator at Avenues of Metairie. "Too many people choose to skip it rather than be exposed to temptation. Our Alumni have found a way to tell the world that having fun and being sober are not mutually exclusive!"

The safe spots will be strategic gathering locations for people committed to sobriety to fully participate in Mardi Gras while enjoying the support of family and friends. Everyone who joins will be given swag, proudly declaring their choice to have fun in recovery along with specially made T-shirts for the occasion.

The sober spots will be located along parade routes in New Orleans and in Metairie from Feb. 18 through March 1 and will be open to anyone in recovery. It is required that participants arrive sober.

The full list of safe spots can be found on the sober safe spot page, where you can also pre-register for the event and sign the Sober Scroll. All spots will be manned by Avenues Recovery alumni, a strong community of recovery heroes who are always willing to go above and beyond to help out others in recovery. To participate, look for the white flag that identifies a sober safe spot.

Source: Avenues Recovery