RECOVERY—Coast to Coast Radio

One Night at a Time; Recovery Radio Struggles to Survive

For the past seven months, Neil Scott has heard it all: Stories of destruction and redemption; portraits of humility and gratitude. Lives reclaimed by those who are homeless to those placed high in society and the public eye. What they all have in common, is the power of recovery one of America’s leading cause of death and family destruction, addiction to alcohol and drugs.

Scott is not a minister or a priest. He is the well known talk show host of America’s only nightly two hour national radio talk show RECOVERY - Coast to Coast. Produced and broadcast locally in Seattle on 1590 KLFE Monday through Friday from 10PM to midnight, this fast-paced, accessible and highly entertaining, radio show provides a vehicle for individuals to share their stories of addiction and recovery while giving hope and strength for those in recovery or still struggling. It is provides a resource for those seeking more information about addiction, treatment options and resources in order to find and maintain a healthy and well-balanced recovery.

In the first hour of the show, Scott interviews authors, treatment professionals, musicians, celebrities and news makers related to the field of addiction and recovery. Recently guests included Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame legend Dion (Dion & the Belmonts); Joseph A. Califano, (former U.S. Secretary of Heath, Education and Welfare and the current President and Chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University); former Los Angeles Dodger Maury Wills; best-selling author J.A. Jance; and Christopher Kennedy Lawford (son of the late Peter Lawford.) In the second hour, he interviews a diverse group of individuals in recovery who share their stories of addiction, strength and hope.

“The power of these incredibly inspirational stories is nothing short of miraculous,” says Scott, “They give heartfelt hope to those still struggling with addiction and they provide living proof that you don’t have to die for a drink or drugs. There's no such thing as a hopeless alcoholic or addict. ”

During the live show, that also reaches a national audience through streaming audio at www.recoverycoasttocoast.org, Scott also receives emails from across the country with questions for his guests or comments about their own personal situation.

“From the feedback we get from the show, I know that on a nightly basis we are doing something positive in the fight against addiction and the harmful misuse of alcohol and other drugs. And we are making a significant difference in the lives of the people we reach.”

But as elated as Scott is about the show and making a difference in the lives of those wanting, or in recovery, the road to keeping such a valuable resource on the air has been a continuous challenge. The organization that sponsors this unique and innovative public awareness project, The Alliance for Recovery, a Seattle-based 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, has struggled with solid funding since the program first aired in October of 2005. With more than 200 shows broadcast as of Friday, July 14, 2006, the nightly voice of Neil Scott and RECOVERY - Coast to Coast are now threatened with silence.

“Many of the people who know about the show, assume that because we are a public service venue, air time is free but unfortunately that’s not true. KLFE is in the business of selling block radio time so we have to pay for those two hours five nights a week and that gets very expensive very quickly,” said Scott.

And according to Scott, addiction is one of the hardest causes to raise money for. The stigma that surrounds identification and treatment, also surrounds recovery and that makes it difficult to get corporations and foundations to fund a disease where stigma, stereotypes and misconceptions are so strong. Ironically addiction impacts everyones’ lives and it runs deep into the fabric of our society.

“Sadly,” says Scott, “it’s a lot more socially acceptable to fund programs that help children or so-called ‘respectable diseases’ like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. But the reality is that alcohol and other drugs play a huge role in those diseases, as well. When we fight to reduce addiction, we are also fighting to reduce the other diseases that are killing people every day!”

Scott, who produced and hosted a similar radio show in the early nineties, Straight Talk - Recovery Radio for the Northwest on KEZX in Seattle, before the station was sold and changed formats, believed so much in the new show that he mortgaged his home to contribute to the initial funding. With limited financial contributions, including a $5,000 donation from local businessman and recovering alcoholic Ken Alhadeff, he has managed to keep the show on the air. When funding ran out in May, Scott also secured a personal loan from Alhadeff to keep the show going through the end of July.

“It’s an uphill struggle, but I really believe in this show and the many lives we are reaching each day and changing for the better. ”

And Scott remains optimistic in hope that emergency funding from foundations, corporations and grateful people in recovery will help him stay on the air while a long term fundraising plan is implemented. With secure funding in place, he would like to expand the program to include a Friday night show by, for, and about young people focusing on the harmful use of alcohol and drugs. He would also like to feature a women’s night focusing specifically on gender specific issues. But these plans will be reliant on funding.

For more information about Neil Scott and Recovery Coast to Coast radio or to make a donation to keep this valuable show on the air, go to: www.recoverycoasttocoast.org