The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information held one of the dozens of FAVOR-inspired "house parties" across the country during the airing of "Saving Carrick."
NCADI put together a short video about the experience.
Deirdre wrote to FAVOR director Pat Taylor:
"This was the most extraordinary reaction to the show that I've seen. I'm sitting here with tears, the first ones! While the website has led to extraordinary stories and given people a place to share them and discuss other issues related to chemical dependence, this example of what came across to others (beyond the typical "you're so courageous," "thank you for doing this it must have taken so much strength to do") as to the REAL "why we did this," is so moving for me to see and hear. If it weren't for the house parties and this little tape I'd never have known that our point truly came across."
Pat responded that "what you saw in the video was happening in homes and other places all over the country — the conversations were incredible."
Reactions like this make the inevitable barbs very easy to accept.