March 20, 2024
Dear Hossein,
Thank you for finding the time during Ramadan and Nouruz to send along your latest communication and response to my recent questions.
The photos of the Simorgh (phoenix) building are appreciated. I think this is the first images I have seen of this building and the activities there. It is quite impressive. It stirred my desired to visit there and talk with each of the people in the photographs about their work for Congress 60. Thank you for sharing these.
I look forward to receiving the results of the epilepsy and amphetamines study. Evidence that the DST method is capable of reconstructing neural pathways would be a remarkable breakthrough and confirmation of your theories about the source of its effectiveness. Collaborations with universities like Bristol will be a great aid to dissemination of the study results and enhance the scientific reputation of Congress 60.
The data you shared is confirmation of the power of people in recovery to spread recovery within a community. That 90 percent of those entering Congress 60 do so through contact and influence of someone already involved in Congress 60 is a remarkable achievement and confirmation that recovery can be socially transmitted. That percentage in the United States is much smaller, with most people coming to treatment as self-referrals or referred from helping professionals or criminal justice agencies. Efforts are underway to increase the influence of people in recovery in spreading the recovery message within their local communities. That is clearly already the case with Congress 60.
We share the problem of potential capacity. Some addiction treatment programs here closed during the Covid pandemic, which resulting in waiting lists for people to be admitted to treatment. This was not good experience as their was a high dropout rate from the waiting list, including as a result of overdose death. Have you used a waiting list in any of the Congress 60 branches? If so, what has been your experience with that? Today, timely access to treatment varies considerably from community to community in the U.S. The number of people now being served in Congress 60 branches is astounding and a remarkable achievement since your founding. I can understand why demand would be high for new branches in other cities.
I will keep this communication brief in respect for Ramadan and Nouruz. Please extend my warmest greetings and best wishes to your family and to all members of Congress 60.
Friends and Brothers Forever