The mission of the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources (CAARR) has always been to encourage the development, expansion, and continuing quality of alcohol and other drug programs in California through advocacy, education, training and positive role modeling.

Leadership

CAARR's Executive Director Susan Blacksher, has over 48 years in the field of alcoholism and drug addiction treatment and recovery.

Being one of the original employees of the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (DADP), Susan is well-versed in the bureaucratic process of legislation and regulatory issues coming from the assembly and senate.  Just as pertinent, Susan has established and provided direct services for those suffering from addiction for the past 20 years. With knowledge and experience from both sides of the field, CAARR has flourished under her direction.  CAARR also employs a lobbyist with more than 15 years' experience who has access to many senators and assemblymen and is located at the capitol making our presence and positions known.

Membership

At this time, we are inviting anyone who is interested in the field of recovery and rehabilitation to join our organization. This will give you direct access to our lobbyist, updates on legislation that will affect us, and those opposed to having legal and equitable housing opportunities for people in recovery that have been moving across our state from Newport Beach to Marin. We are an organization with more than 30 years of experience; and one that will stand up for the rights of the recovery community at large.

With your participation, we can be the one organization in California that can be the change so desperately needed to simply hold our politicians accountable for laws and statutes already in existence and to be sure that any proposed legislation is not in violation of the rights of those in recovery from addiction.

WHY CAARR?

Your input is welcome and needed.

Many colleagues and facilities throughout the state are unaware that CAARR has been an advocate and a "watchdog", promoting and protecting the rights and privileges of creating and maintaining the variety of recovery environments and opportunities for the treatment and recovery from Substance Use Disorders and the attendant co-occurring disorders. These opportunities range from licensed and certified residential treatment centers, registered sober living environments, outpatient programs, to DUI and impaired professional services.
CAARR has written, promoted, defended, and successfully passed several pieces of legislation that have changed the landscape of the treatment field toward a more equitable, non-discriminate and safer path for our citizens that suffer from this devastating and fatal illness.

The Original Social Model 

The creation of most social model recovery homes came about in direct response to the obvious and presented needs of alcoholics (later addicts). Those consisted of the need for food, shelter and an environment supportive of being sober and clean.