“We're expecting to see more people in recovery and more people that deal with recovery,” Tripp said Thursday. “The total focus is to continue to bring awareness we do have a drug problem and there is a way out.”

Tripp is inviting parents, teachers, preachers, addicts and their families and children to attend. “We will be distributing Narcan,” he said. “Our deputies have it in their patrol cars. We've used it more than once. Some folks have coded and have been brought back Narcan.”

Wayne Ray and Katherine Keyes, both recovery specialists, have agreed to assist with the Recovery Summit, the sheriff said. “They know who to bring in to impact the general public. It's important to say nobody's perfect. This is not a summit to put people down, but a summit to lift people up.”

The summit begins with a barbecue dinner at 5 p.m. Then at 6 p.m. there will be some bands whose members are in recovery. Those musicians are Evan Barlow, Brandon Jacobson and Michael Telliga.

At 7 p.m. there will be several motivational speakers including John Shinholser of the McShin Foundation.

Tripp said he was appreciative of the city letting him use the theater as the venue for the summit. “Larry Chalker and Joseph Scherer were instrumental.”

The sheriff said he would love to see as many as 400 people attend the summit. “At the prayer vigil before Thanksgiving we had 300 plus. It's very important, not only for those addicted, but those who have family. This is a way of being proactive.”

The summit, he said, “Is one of those things if we can save one person that's what counts. We're doing what we can to be proactive. This is to help. We're not looking to arrest.”

Donations will be accepted with the proceeds going to Women of Trinity.

“We just want people to know there is recovery in Roanoke Rapids,” said Keyes. “There are options, there are choices and if you come to the event you will hear a message you can relate to. I think it's going to be a great event. We hope to have good representation from the recovery community.”

Keyes said the event is about trying to break the stigma associated with the disease of addiction.

As a cancer survivor, Keyes said there was an outpouring of sympathy and condolences. “When they find out you're an alcoholic and addict, no one brought food.”

Keyes is hoping for a large turnout. “If one person hears and gets help the event is worthwhile.”

For Ray there is hope for a continued discussion of addiction. “We're going to have a retired trooper, we have a physician, we have an engineer. We want to address the stigma of addiction.”

Ray sees the summit as a way to celebrate — not castigate. “We just want to continue to celebrate recovery, make sure it's not some mystical, anonymous thing. It's not easy, it's takes resources.”

What will be demonstrated, Ray said, is the resources available. “There are many paths up the mountain.”