Tim Ryan, nationally-acclaimed addiction speaker and A&E’s “Dope Man,” will speak at Foster Park on the drug addiction crisis September 19 from 6-8 p.m. The event, hosted by Turning Point System of Care, will feature live music as well as Ryan’s personal story of his battle with addiction and remarkable recovery.
System of Care wants to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and offer the community valuable information. Ryan’s talk will be of interest and value to concerned citizens and the general public.
Known as “The Hope Dealer,” Ryan strives to address the opioid crisis with solutions. Once a successful businessman, he lost nearly everything to his heroin addiction. It was in prison that he found recovery. Shortly after exiting prison, he lost his own son to an overdose. His goal is to connect those in addiction with resources—as well as support families, communities, and law makers who are trying to help. “We don’t have an epidemic; we have a pandemic,” he says. “We need to get busy finding solutions, because people are dying. My aim is to offer hope.”
Ryan founded A Man in Recovery Foundation, a phenomenally successful nonprofit that’s sole purpose is to facilitate free or reduced-cost recovery services to addicts and their families and is the National Outreach Director for Transformations Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center.
Today, in addition to running addiction recovery groups for addicts and families, Tim is the subject of the new A&E documentary, Dope Man, reaching millions. He has been a featured thought leader in numerous national media, including USA Today, Newsweek, Chicago Tribune, and “The Steve Harvey Show with Dr. Drew,” and dozens of nationally syndicated radio shows. He was an invited guest by the U.S. President to the 2016 State of the Union Address. He is the author of the bestselling book, From Dope to Hope.
Ryan is lauded as one of the nation’s leading speakers on the drug epidemic. He regularly engages audiences and changes the course of their lives. “I wanted to thank Mr. Ryan so much for coming to our school today and talking to us. My family struggles with drug addiction, and it’s an important topic to me. His presentation really meant a lot!” remarked a student at Towns County High School in Hiawassee, Georgia, where Ryan spoke in October.
Dustin DeLong, one of the local organizers for bringing Ryan to Kokomo, believes Ryan has an important message the community needs to hear. “As the chief probation officer of Howard County, I think it’s important to both educate people on the impact substance abuse is making on our community and the fact that there are steps that we can take to fight it together. Ryan both educates and inspires.”