Community Corner

North Andover Doctor Honors Senator with Lifetime Achievement Award

The following was submitted by Regan Communications.

On Wednesday, July 13, Senator Steven A. Tolman of the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex districts, was honored as the 2011 recipient of the Nathaniel Hakim Askia Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony at Anthony’s Pier 4 in Boston.

Presented by the National Library of Addictions (NLA), the award, now in its tenth year, recognizes individuals who dedicate their work and lives to helping people with addictions to drugs and alcohol.

Founded in 1993 by Dr. P. S. Kishore of North Andover, the National Library of Addictions is a not-for-profit, intellectual gathering place for health care professionals and community members who are working to overcome the effects of addictions. The library, located in Brookline, MA, serves as a research facility, continuing medical educational institute, and place for professionals to exchange ideas and develop treatment methodologies.

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More than 50 healthcare professionals and government officials gathered to congratulate Senator Tolman on his award. Guest speakers include Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission; Reverend Vernard B. Wade, the brother of Nathaniel Hakim Askia; and Paul DellaRocco, President of Franciscan Hospital for Children.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is named after Nathaniel Hakim Askia, a man who recovered from heroin addiction in the 1960s and subsequently founded the FIRST Academy, a therapeutic community for recovering addicts in Roxbury. Askia was among the first people to address addictions as a community-based issue.  Addiction treatment advocates and treatment providers in particular are traditionally cloaked in anonymity. Dr. Kishore created the Nathaniel Hakim Askia award in 2002 as a way to acknowledge the unspoken heroes who often go unrecognized.

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“When faced with challenges and temptation, Nathaniel would often quote Psalm 22:1, ‘A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold,’” said Reverend Vernard B. Wade, Pastor at Dominion Christian Church and brother of Nathaniel Hakim Askia. Wade attended the event with Nathaniel’s oldest son, Nathaniel Askia Jr.

For several years, Senator Steven A. Tolman has served as a strong, vocal advocate in the war against addictions.  After his term as Senate Chair of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee, he remained involved with the cause and in 2009 became the Chairman of the Massachusetts Oxycontin and Heroin Commission, an organization dedicated to investigating the effects of the abuse of prescription medication and illicit drugs.

“Senator Tolman has been and will continue to be a powerful advocate for the war against addictions,” said Dr. Kishore. “His passion does not go unnoticed and the Library of Addictions is so pleased to present him with this award as he has dedicated many efforts to help those struggling with addiction.”


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