National Recovery Month: Stopping Stigma, Busting Myths

September is an important month for those of us in the recovery community. This is because it’s National Recovery Month, created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), and it’s a chance to celebrate your recovery and help stop the stigma and harmful myths surrounding addiction and addiction treatment. 

This year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community,” emphasizes community involvement and how we can all help educate and spread awareness that prevention is possible and treatment works.

Let’s face it: Having the courage to face your addiction and get help takes courage and hard work – and that’s even without having to address common misconceptions like addiction being a character flaw and there being a magic bullet or one-size-fits-all treatment. This is your month to honor your journey and those who have helped you find your way back to a sober, fulfilling life.  

“Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities around the country celebrate Recovery Month,” writes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). “They speak about the gains made by those in recovery and share their success stories with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In doing so, everyone helps to increase awareness and furthers a greater understanding about the diseases of mental and substance use disorders.”

What will you do this month to join the celebration? You can spread the word via FB, twitter or Instagram. Recoverymonth.gov has banners, flyers, and customizable posters to promote Recovery Month on social media. If you feel comfortable, you can even share your personal recovery story in the hopes of empowering someone else to take that brave step toward sobriety. There may even be a Recovery Month event going on in your area. If attending is not possible, there’s live streaming of some of the more notable events throughout the month.

There’s No Shame in Getting Help
September is your month to begin your recovery and take back your life! At Complete Harmony, we celebrate people in recovery and the professionals and loved ones who have helped make recovery possible. To learn more about dual-diagnosis or about rehabilitation for yourself or someone you love, call us today: 866-930-4673. 

National Recovery Month: Get Involved

September is National Recovery Month and there are a number of ways that you can get involved – and, why not, the goal is to celebrate those who are recovering and embracing a new, healthy sober life. Just like you!   

Recovery Month began in 1989 as Treatment Works! Month, which honored the work of substance use treatment professionals in the field. The observance evolved into National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in 1998, celebrating the accomplishment of individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. In 2011, Recovery Month included all aspects of behavioral health.

Today, more than 200 different organizations host recovery events every September. This year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Strengthen Families and Communities,” highlights the value of family and community support throughout recovery and invites individuals in recovery as well as their family members to share their stories and successes to encourage others. 

Here's how you can get involved: 

• Find a local in-person or online event. Recoverymonth.gov keeps a running list of events that take place around the country. You can visit the site to find an event near you, or you can organize your own event and add it to the list to get more exposure. Recovery Month activities range from a “proclamation signing” to a walk, run or rally to cookouts and picnics. There are a variety of online activities, too, including webinars, online chats and live Tweeting. 
• Promote it on social media. Post your recovery date on social media or update your Facebook photo to represent something you’re proud of because of recovery. You can also use the Recovery Month tools, graphics and resources designed to help anyone spread the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.
• Give hope to others by sharing your story. Simply talking about your recovery to a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker is perhaps the best thing you can do to spread awareness. You can also share your story on Recoverymonth.gov under the “Voices for Recovery” section. Another idea: Create a blog. Writing about your recovery experience will be therapeutic for you and may just help someone else to imagine themselves in recovery.

Celebrate With Complete Harmony
National Recovery Month is a positive way to celebrate the importance of recovery. It can also serve as a wake up call for you or someone you love, so reach out to us today if you need addiction help. To learn about our cutting edge addiction treatments, call: 866-930-4673.