Addict and author to keynote YES annual breakfast

Although he’s been in recovery longer than the young people served by Youth Eastside Services have been alive, Christopher Kennedy Lawford vividly recalls how he was once in their shoes. His first experiment with LSD at 13 led to 17 years of substance abuse, overdoses and arrests. Today, he’s been sober for more than 26 years.

Although he’s been in recovery longer than the young people served by Youth Eastside Services have been alive, Christopher Kennedy Lawford vividly recalls how he was once in their shoes. His first experiment with LSD at 13 led to 17 years of substance abuse, overdoses and arrests. Today, he’s been sober for more than 26 years.

Lawford will be the keynote speaker at Invest in Youth, Youth Eastside Services’ annual fund-raising breakfast, on Tuesday, March 19. He’ll share his powerful journey from existing as an addict and substance abuser to thriving as an author, advocate and actor.

Lawford’s message that recovery is possible is at the core of YES’s work with youth and their families.

“Addiction can affect a family who has everything just as easily as a family who has nothing,” he says. With a compelling mix of experience and humility, he illuminates the disease of addiction and inspires substance abusers to kick the habit.

Lawford’s heartfelt presentation and solution-based approach will resonate with guests at the Invest in Youth Breakfast. Hearing his story will be memorable, informative and a powerful reminder of why investing in our youth matters.

Youth Eastside Services is a lifeline for kids and families coping with challenges such as emotional distress, substance abuse and violence. Through intervention, outreach and prevention, YES builds confidence and responsibility, strengthens family relationships, and advocates for a safer community that cares for its youth.

Proceeds from Invest in Youth ensure that local children get the help they need regardless of their family’s ability to pay for services, and support underfunded programs and services. For information, please go to Invest in Youth. For interview opportunities, please contact Maria Lamarca Anderson via email or by phone at 425-586-2322.