September is National Recovery Month!
National Recovery Month is observed in the United States throughout September every year. The goal of this initiative is to educate individuals about the single most important thing when it comes to mental and substance abuse disorders:
It is more than possible for any individual with substance use disorder to not only recover from it but also thrive in life.
But how exactly does Recovery Month strive to achieve this goal? It puts the spotlight on celebrating the improvements made by the individuals in recovery. The result? An inspiring and positive message spreads across the country that is all about:
- How behavioral health is directly linked to overall health.
- How treatment works wonders
- How prevention does bring results
- How recovery is fully achievable
Recovery Month is celebrated by all the prevention, treatment, and recovery facilities and programs across the country. Millions of Americans have successful recovery stories to tell – and National Recovery Month uncovers these stories for everyone to draw an inspiring message from. This not only spreads national-wide awareness about mental and substance use disorders but also helps people develop a deep understanding of them.
From 2022 onwards, the permanent theme for recovery month is “Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.”
Another critical goal of National Recovery Month is to both reinforce and promote recovery and treatment practices that are evidence-based. Each year, this month helps the recovery community progress and thrive.
When individuals understand substance use disorder better, they naturally understand the diseases that co-occur with it. Through the knowledge that Recovery Month helps spread, families, friends, and loved ones of those potentially struggling with substance use disorders are better equipped to understand and help them sail through their recovery.
There are many resources available for those wanting to learn more about observing the recovery month. Faces & Voices for Recovery, for instance, has created a new website for Recovery Month. This website hosts all the events associated with Recovery Month and also offers a repository of assets to help communities make local celebrations possible.
SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), which started in 1989, has been supporting and promoting several recovery and treatment practices that are evidence-based. SAMSHA runs several initiatives and offers several grant fundings for Recovery Month to spread awareness about mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people throughout their long-term recoveries.
SAMSHA also offers a free, confidential national helpline which is available 24/7 throughout the year to help individuals and families struggling with substance misuse disorders. The helpline offers valuable information and referrals for recovery and treatment support services.
For organizers who need assistance in planning and promoting Recovery Month events, SAMSHA offers a comprehensive toolkit. This toolkit also helps individuals spot any signs of mental or substance use disorders.
AlcoholAwareness.org offers a free 24/7 Alcohol Abuse Hotline for those who have questions about alcohol addiction or want to find a local Alcoholics Anonymous group for support in person.
Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit organization for individuals coping with substance abuse. This fellowship of men and women has regular meetings that help people cope with their issues better. Alcoholics Anonymous is another self-help organization that offers support and guidance to individuals coping with alcohol abuse issues.
A small first step makes a massive difference when it comes to recovering from mental and substance use disorders. But with strength, ever-growing hope, and constant support, the journey of recovery can become a fruitful one.