In honor of National Addiction Treatment Week, former Wildcat football star Vance Johnson will share his story of addiction and recovery in a special talk at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21.
The presentation, “Transparency is Transformation: A Journey Into and Out of Addiction,” is hosted by the University of Arizona Health Sciences Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center and the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson Addiction Medicine Fellowship. The event is free and open to the public.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 21.2 million Americans ages 12 and older had substance abuse disorder in 2018, and only 11% received treatment. The goal of the Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center is to help those who suffer from chronic pain and substance use disorder through clinical care, research, education and legislation. The Addiction Medicine Fellowship is a one-year training program that educates physicians in the specialized care and treatment of substance use disorders.
Reservations are not required for the Transparency is Transformation: A Journey Into and Out of Addiction. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Vance Johnson played college football at the University of Arizona (1981-84), where he was a multipurpose running back. In four seasons as a starter for the Wildcats, Johnson amassed 2,885 total yards, 104 receptions and 31 touchdowns while also returning 62 kickoffs for 1,369 yards and another score. Johnson was also a world-class long jumper. In 1982, Johnson won the NCAA long jump championship and a gold medal at the Junior Pan American games. In 1984, Johnson just missed making the U.S. Olympic team, finishing fourth in the long jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He helped the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s and had an impressive performance in Super Bowl XXI, recording five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. Johnson achieved sobriety in 2013 and is an active advocate for addiction recovery. The Vance Johnson Recovery Center opened in Las Vegas in 2019.