September is National Recovery Month. For addicts and their loved ones, it’s a time to increase awareness and celebrate sobriety. Each year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sponsors the month in an effort to promote the understanding of substance abuse and mental disorders.
What Is National Recovery Month?
National Recovery Month is a nationwide observance to educate Americans about how mental health and recovery services help addicts live enriching, healthy lives. It’s also a celebration of those who recover, just as we celebrate those who overcome heart disease and cancer.
The Importance Of Behavioral Health
National Recovery Month reinforces the message that our behavioral health is just as important as our physical health. Just as breast cancer awareness focuses on the importance of mammograms, substance abuse awareness emphasizes that treatment programs can and do work. The evidence is all around us, and September marks a time for public to see it.
Transforming Lives
Each year, thousands of prevention, recovery, and treatment programs participate in sharing success stories. Often unnoticed by the population at large, recovery services have transformed the lives of millions of addicts and their loved ones. Through a series of coordinated events, mental health workers help spread awareness about this process while destigmatizing addiction and substance abuse disorders.
History And Conception
National Recovery Month began in 1989 as Treatment Works! Month. Originally, it was a celebration of all those in the field who made sobriety possible. A decade later, the celebration became National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month to include those who successfully overcame a substance abuse disorder. In 2011, it was renamed again and now is called National Recovery Month to celebrate everyone involved in the process while emphasizing the importance of behavioral health. This is the celebration’s 27th year.
Organizations That Make It Possible
Recovery Month is a coordinated effort of more than 200 federal, state, and local government organizations, as well as nonprofit groups and associations that are committed to the prevention and treatment of substance and mental abuse disorders. Supporting groups help develop and disseminate teaching materials, awareness initiatives, and event promotion. The planning partners also come up with a theme for each year’s celebration.
Join The Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery!
This year, Recovery Month focuses on the holistic effort that drives patient recovery. Substance abuse disorders affect more than just the patient; effects spread to families and loved ones. A success story is often a coordinated effort of a patient, the patient’s families, and their support professionals. This year is a celebration of that systemic effort.
This National Recovery Month, take a few moments to learn about the recovery process through the stories of patients and their families. Celebrate every victory, and realize each new milestone is a step in the lifelong journey of recovery. Click the button below for help on your recovery path.
At Pathways Recovery, we pride ourselves on the services we offer to those who are ready to take the next step to heal. Our services include, but not limited to, drug and alcohol treatment, outpatient rehab treatment, and family education. At Pathways Recovery, we also offer a holistic treatment plan for those who might need a little more assistance in our comfortable and safe drug and alcohol detox center located in a quite and friendly residential area.Contact us today for any questions or to speak with a highly trained member of our staff. The first step starts with a call today for a better tomorrow.
