As a house president, I know firsthand what true leadership in recovery requires. It doesn't require a state-issued certificate or bureaucratic approval to guide others and live a positive, accountable lifestyle.

The Department of Behavioral Health's certification and training process functions like a money racket, charging fees out-of-pocket for classes and credentials. By contrast, living and practicing true recovery, good values, and a self-governed lifestyle costs nothing. It is built entirely on peer support, spreading the message, and helping those in recovery by giving back to our community as a form of making amends.

Our recovery model works because it is grassroots, autonomous, and free from financial barriers. We don't need the state to monetize and manage our leadership. Please protect our independent houses and stop overcomplicating a system that is already saving lives every single day.

— Ryan Bingham, House President