National Recovery Month 2020

National Recovery Month 2020

National Recovery Month 2020

This year, we battled with a lot of things. While some of us shelved some of our plans and resigned to remaining at home, some of us dealt with something else: substance abuse.  

Due to the global pandemic, there has been a significant increase in substance abuse which directly affects the mental health of several individuals. But September comes to the rescue.

This month marks the end of Summer (regrettably for those of us who never had the opportunity to go out), Labor Day, and resumption of schools. As governments the world over plan and prepare towards recovering her economies, it is only right that we all strategize towards recovery from coronavirus and from substance abuse. And that’s what National Recovery Month is all about.

 

In this article, we are going to explore everything you need to know about National Recovery Month and why it is so important. But first things first

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What is National Recovery Month?

National Recovery Month is an observance held in the month of September to inform Americans that proper health treatments can assist people with struggling with substance abuse to survive and live better lives.

This observance celebrates and encourages the giant strides made by people who have recovered from substance abuse—the same way there are events to celebrate the recovery from heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.

It chronicles the success stories of every individual who has recovered, depicting their struggles, the obstacles faced, and how they were able to conquer these obstacles.

It also seeks to inform those battling with substance abuse that a change in behavioral health is pertinent to a change in their overall health which fosters recovery.

Since its inception in 1989, Recovery Month seeks to remove stigmatization associated with substance abuse. It reinforces the claim that we are all humans in spite of our mental health status.

Recovery Month, launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), focuses on a new theme every year to spread awareness of mental health recovery.

This year’s theme is titled “Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Connections” and is spearheaded by Faces and Voices of Recovery.

What happens during National Recovery Month?

Seminars are organized and held throughout the month to inspire hope in people battling mental illness and substance abuse. Documentaries are also showcased on cable networks and various online streaming platforms to educate and inform the public on the issue of substance abuse and to share success stories on recoveries.

Also, awareness walks and marches are conducted throughout the month to bring awareness to the streets and homes.

We’re here to help, too. We partner with addiction treatment facilities to help those struggling with addiction get the help they need. If you’re ready to begin rehab, please reach out to us today. We will help you find the right treatment facility and get the help you need to live a sober life.

Why is Recovery Month so relevant?

The importance of the National Recovery Month cannot be downplayed. SAMHSA seeks to achieve the following with Recovery Month:

Advocate and Foster Recovery.

One of the reasons Recovery Month is so important is that it seeks to advocate for people struggling with substance abuse to seek recovery. At the moment, the reality is disturbing:

Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reveals that only 10.8% of adults who were in dire need of treatment for substance abuse got into rehab and received proper treatment. This poses a serious concern for other persons who are not able to receive treatments for their condition.

Without getting access to treatments, people battling substance abuse run the risk of losing their lives. In 2016 alone, over 63,000 deaths were recorded as a result of a drug overdose in the US.

Alcohol abuse has led to over 80,000 deaths every year. This is what Recovery Month hopes to eliminate—with awareness programs held in the communities, and on online platforms.

Tackling Stigmatization.

One of the issues people struggling with substance abuse face is direct and indirect stigmatization. People who are constantly stigmatized feel less of themselves, which prevents them from seeking medical help.

People with substance abuse problems often feel rejected by friends and loved ones. This affects them mentally, driving them to extreme heights. They would not be open to the idea of seeking medical treatments that will help them recover.

Recovery Month hopes to tackle this by educating and encouraging the general public to not stigmatize persons with drug abuse illnesses.

Celebrating Survivors.

National Recovery Month is organized to celebrate and tell the stories of people who have recovered from substance abuse. By so doing, it is geared to pass the message that total recovery can still happen.

People who are battling with substance abuse need to know that there’s still hope for them to make a massive turnaround. And one of the ways for them to know that is by reading, watching, and listening to people who have once battled with the same condition tell their stories of how they recovered.

While the SAMHSA has a huge role to play this month, you are not left out. If there’s someone you know who’s battling with substance abuse, you can help out in the following areas:

  • Educate yourself. You need to understand what that person is going through daily as a result of substance abuse. You also need to know the implications and how this will affect you as a friend, family member, or a part of their community. There are many educational resources online you can read up on.
  • Offer support. One of the best ways you can help out is to take them to support programs that provide assistance to their addiction problems. Alcohol Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are some of the support groups that you can take them to.
  • Constantly encourage them. While they’re seeking medical assistance to deal with their substance abuse issues, you need to encourage full recovery. It is important that they can rely on you for support and care.

We all need the love and support of each other to foster better as a people and community. Make it a point of duty to encourage that person battling addiction problems and make the community a better place this month.

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