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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A national organization that supports people in the fight against addiction is launching a local branch.</p><p>The Luzerne County arm of Young People in Recovery will host an event to introduce itself to the community from 2 to 5 p.m. May 21 at the Downtown Arts building, 47 N. Franklin St. The event will feature guest speakers, information tables, a photo booth, raffle baskets, light refreshments and musical performances by Mike &#8220;MiZ&#8221; Mizwinski and the Kluster Phunk duo.</p><p>YPR is a resource organization with over 100 chapters that helps people in various stages of recovery with completing their education, securing housing and finding gainful employment &#8212; often after finishing drug rehabilitation programs or prison sentences.</p><p>YPR volunteer Carol Coolbaugh, of West Pittston, has intimately felt the effects of addiction.</p><p>&#8220;I had a son who passed away eight years ago, Eric, and I currently run a support group for people who have lost loved ones through addiction called GRASP, which stands for Grief, Recovery after Substance Passing,&#8221; Coolbaugh said.</p><p>Remembering those who have died as a result of addiction, Coolbaugh said, is necessary, but as important is reaching those who are struggling to begin or stay in recovery.</p><p>&#8220;We all know about the epidemic and the rate of overdoses,&#8221; Coolbaugh said. &#8220;But there are a lot of people in recovery. We want people to know that recovery works and they are not alone.&#8221;</p><p>Coolbaugh said she became aware of branches of YPR in Lackawanna and Wyoming counties and thought it could also serve people in Wilkes-Barre and surrounding communities who are often confused and searching for the right way to start recovery or maintain it in early stages.</p><p>&#8220;The stigma is just as much of a killer as the drugs, because people are embarrassed,&#8221; Coolbaugh said. &#8220;They&#8217;re afraid. I don&#8217;t know how we&#8217;re going to break that (stigma), but we can start by getting the word out there that recovery is happening.&#8221;</p><p>Coolbaugh said YPR offers referrals to service organizations and agencies designed to help people in recovery and that YPR does not believe in a single mode of healing.</p><p>&#8220;There are different pathways to recovery, and we support all of them,&#8221; Coolbaugh said. &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to be in NA or AA. You can be on medical assistance. As long as you&#8217;re seeking recovery, we want to support you.&#8221;</p><p>Another YPR focus, Coolbaugh said, is planning entertaining events in the community.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s work being in recovery,&#8221; Coolbaugh said. &#8220;We want to do something that&#8217;s fun. This event is a dance, and we&#8217;re going to have a magician, but we want to do other things like start a softball league.&#8221;</p><p>YPR is an organization comprised of young people in recovery, but Coolbaugh said it welcomes all who want to help the community heal, such as friends and family members.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s amazing the energy they have and the commitment they have,&#8221; Coolbaugh said of those in recovery. &#8220;These people are so much more than the disease, and this is another way to bring awareness.&#8221;</p><p><ins>For other Life Section stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/features" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Mike Mizwinski will perform at the Young People in Recovery Kick-Off in Wilkes-Barre May 21. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL011815leadtoread2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Mike Mizwinski will perform at the Young People in Recovery Kick-Off in Wilkes-Barre May 21. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_YPR.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Volunteers from the Wilkes-Barre Chapter of Young People in Recovery seek to bring resources to people struggling with addiction in Luzerne County. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_YPR.jpg</photo1><caption1>Volunteers from the Wilkes-Barre Chapter of Young People in Recovery seek to bring resources to people struggling with addiction in Luzerne County. </caption1><photoCredit1>Submitted photo </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_KlusterPhunk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The innaugural event of the Wilkes-Barre Chapter of Young People in Recovery will feature live music by the Kluster Phunk duo. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_KlusterPhunk.jpg</photo2><caption2>The innaugural event of the Wilkes-Barre Chapter of Young People in Recovery will feature live music by the Kluster Phunk duo. </caption2><photoCredit2>Submitted photo </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Day of music, speakers to introduce recovery group</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>IF YOU GO</strong></p><p><strong>What: </strong>YPR Wilkes-Barre Chapter Kick-Off</p><p><strong>Where: </strong>Downtown Arts, 47 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre</p><p><strong>When: </strong>2 to 5 p.m. May 21</p><p><strong>Additional information: </strong>This event is free and open to the public.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or on Twitter @TimesLeaderMatt.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Young People in Recovery to launch Wilkes-Barre branch with music, dancing