The Friends of Forest Foundation was established to honor the life of Forest Thiel. Forest was a lover of books and a voracious reader, he also had a passion for helping others struggling with substance use disorders. One of Forest's greatest pleasures in life was hearing someone's story, having a true, genuine conversation. Forest passed away on September 10, 2021 at 23 years old, from opioid use disorder. Forest knew the despair of active addiction and the triumph and joy of recovery. This foundation combines Forest's love of reading and helping others, adding additional resources to facilities and organizations that support and treat people with substance use disorders. The use of books (bibliotherapy) as an adjunct to other treatment modalities has been shown to be effective in substance use disorders. Reading has also been shown to improve cognitive function, reduce stress, increase empathy, help people feel less alone, and provide a healthy escape. The books on our Amazon Wish List are requested directly from the facilities and organizations that work with individuals with substance use disorders. Amazon gift cards and monetary donations will help us continue to fulfill book requests for future recipients.
It is our hope that the Friends of Forest Foundation can provide a valuable tool for people on their journey towards recovery, and that we can continue to spread the love and light Forest brought to people's lives.