Caron Treatment Centers, a nonprofit behavioral healthcare leader for almost 70 years dedicated to treatment, research, prevention and addiction medicine education, announces the appointment of three-time Olympic gold medalist Carrie Bates as the Director of Strategic Growth and Advocacy. As part of this new role, Bates will engage with recovery-oriented organizations and partners on issues such as stigma, access to treatment and support services, mental wellness, the impact of addiction on families, women in recovery and prevention. She will also work with families needing access to treatment services.
“The numbers are staggering – deaths related to substance and alcohol use disorders exceeded 200,000 last year,” said John Driscoll, President and CEO, Caron Treatment Centers. “Addiction impacts one in three American families and every American company, but many individuals and families are left to navigate this disease in a silo. Shame and stigma are very real and continue to be a barrier to appropriate medical care, treatment and support services for this treatable brain disease. Carrie deeply understands the dangers of stigma. Her experience, authenticity and passion for recovery make her the right person for this role as our new Director of Strategic Growth and Advocacy.”
As part of her focus, Bates will work with corporate partners and membership associations to create an open dialogue about fostering mental wellness and resiliency in the workforce, while providing resources regarding addiction and recovery in the workplace. Bates will also serve as a spokesperson and a speaker at conferences, sharing her experience as an elite athlete and someone in recovery.
“I didn’t have the right tools as an elite athlete to cope with my sudden return to ‘normal’ life,” said Bates. “The pressure to succeed and find balance in being a good partner, a good parent and a good employee can be intense, especially when you’ve spent your life focused on the pursuit of a singular dream. Many turn to substances to cope, making the struggle even more difficult. One of my goals is to normalize mental health and wellness, ensuring there are necessary education and resources available when people need them, wherever they need them – in sports, in the boardroom and at home.
Bates is also passionate about the plight of families seeking recovery for themselves and their loved ones.
“Caron believes that the patient is the family and the family is the patient,” continued Bates. “Its commitment to family and whole system recovery is one of the reasons I joined Caron. I’m also excited about their neurorestorative approach to care, which uses brain science to look at the underlying issues driving addiction to treat the whole person. I look forward to helping them advance this approach to improve treatment and make recovery more accessible.”
