Charlotte Wethington, BS, MA, retired after 27 years of teaching and has become a recovery advocate receiving several volunteer advocate awards in Kentucky.  In 2003, she formed a grief support group called P.E.A.C.E. (Parents Enduring Addiction Consequences Everyday).  She initiated “The Matthew Casey Wethington Act for Substance Abuse Intervention”, an involuntary treatment law, which became effective for the state of KY on July 13, 2004.  Charlotte currently serves as Board Secretary and Legislative Chair for PAR (People Advocating Recovery) and as a board member for the Alcoholism Council of the Cincinnati Area, NCADD.  Charlotte has worked part – time for Transitions, Inc. as Recovery Advocate for the past three years. As a result of the First Annual Vigil for Lost Promise held at the DEA Headquarters in June 2006, she helped to organize Families Changing America which is now a national non-profit organization of families impacted by substance abuse. For the past five years, she has been speaking publicly and now hosts a local cable show segment. Her message is about drugs, the disease of addiction and the hope of recovery. Charlotte speaks in order to raise awareness about addiction and inspire others to advocacy.  She hopes to see the day when addiction is treated as a disease without shame, stigma or discrimination.  She speaks as an advocate and as a mom, Casey’s mom.