Andre Johnson reflects on his journey through addiction, treatment, and recovery; his founding of the Detroit Recovery Project; and his involvement in community and government efforts to destigmatize addiction, expand access to treatment, and reduce recidivism. Johnson provides details about the founding and development of the Detroit Recovery Project, including the importance of the Substance Abus e and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Recovery Community Support Grant facility. He also outlines the political and economic crisis in Detroit, and recounts his early impressions of Barack Obama and his expectations for the Obama presidency. Johnson also describes his 2014 appointment to the advisory board of SAMHSA's Centers for Substance Abuse Treatment by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and his 2016 receipt of a White House Champions of Change award for his work preventing heroin and prescription drug abuse, increasing treatment access, and supporting Americans in recovery. Also discussed are the importance of vocational job training and family support programs in the recovery process; the long-term, historical trajectory of the opioid epidemic in Detroit and across the United States; racial health disparities and the social determinants of health outcomes; and the effects of the Obama administration's Clemency Initiative
Presidents--United States; Drug addiction--Treatment--United States; Drug abuse--Treatment--United States; Substance abuse--Treatment--United States; Substance abuse treatment facilities--United States; Opioid abuse--Michigan; Discrimination in medical care--United States; Johnson, Andre; Obama, Barack; United States. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (U.S.); Clemency Initiative
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
43 pages
Note (Biographical)
Andre Johnson is the founder, president, and CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project, a substance abuse recovery community organization providing peer-led services in Detroit, Michigan. In 2016, Johnson was honored by the White House as one of ten Champio ns of Change, leading in the area of preventing prescription drug abuse and heroin use, increasing access to treatment, and supporting Americans in recovery. Additionally, in 2014, Johnson was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to serve as an advisory board member to the Centers for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. At the time of the interview, Johnson also sits on the board of the College for Behavioral Health Leadership
Note
Interviewed by Terrell D. Frazier on August 9, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Andre Johnson, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023