THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20201

Dear Recovery Month Participant:

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month is quickly approaching, and I am privileged to join your organization and many others in promoting this year's theme—"Recovering Our Future: One Youth at a Time." As you know, youth substance abuse jeopardizes the success of our young people—both today and in the years to come. It also has devastating effects on our Nation's families, our schools, our communities, and our quality of life.

Youth substance abuse is a nationwide challenge that requires a nationwide response. The good news is that substance abuse treatment has yielded tremendous success in helping millions of young people escape the grip of alcohol and drugs. There has never been a better time to unite our efforts and resources. Together, we can make significant progress toward ensuring that every teenager in every community in every state and territory has access to comprehensive, coordinated, community-based, and culturally competent substance abuse treatment.

This Recovery Month effort is an important step in bringing to light the need to double our efforts to help our youth become drug-free.

Thank you for your continued efforts. Your commitment to the Nation's youth is greatly admired and appreciated.

Sincerely,

Donna E. Shalala

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
Washington, D.C. 20503

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

September 2000 has been designated National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. The theme for this year's observance — "Recovering Our Future: One Youth at a Time" — underscores the need to promote substance-abuse treatment for young people.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is proud to support the efforts of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and this year's planning partners, which include the American Bar Association, Center for Mental Health Services, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse, National Association for Children of Alcoholics, National Association for Native American Children of Alcoholics, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Directors, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Drug Abuse, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Defense.

The spirit of cooperation reflected in this year's Recovery Month activities will have a tremendous impact on American youngsters, families, and communities. Together, we can help our nation's most precious resource young people remain drug-free.

Best wishes,

Barry R. McCaffrey
Director

 

Center for Mental Health Services
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Rockville MD 20857

Dear Friends:

It is time again to celebrate the tremendous strides that have been made in substance abuse treatment and recovery. However, as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month draws near, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) wants to remind you that substance abuse problems among youth continue to present a formidable challenge for families, communities, and our Nation as a whole.

This year's theme, "Recovering Our Future: One Youth at a Time," is intended to shift the Nation's attention—for one full month—to the unique needs of adolescents with substance abuse problems. While everyone agrees that young people with substance abuse problems need access to treatment, it is clear that few seek help, and those who do often receive treatment that is inappropriate. Many treatment programs are designed for adults and are ill-equipped to meet the unique needs of adolescents. This is an important and urgent concern that merits our undivided attention.

The enclosed materials are designed to provide you with the tools and messages you need to educate others in your State and community about substance abuse problems among youth and the benefits of treatment. Specifically, these materials target parents and families, schools and the education community, health policymakers and insurers, juvenile justice systems, health professionals, community organizations serving youth, and employers. We also are pleased to provide you with materials that will help you engage print and broadcast media in your public education efforts. Together, these products provide the information and resources you need to launch a comprehensive public education initiative throughout your State or community. As SAMHSA and CSAT will be working to spread the word on a national scale, it is our sincere hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to share this information with others in your State and community who are poised to have a positive and powerful impact on youth.

We deeply appreciate your efforts to improve the lives of young people with substance abuse problems. Your unswerving commitment to this important issue is an inspiration to us and our colleagues at SAMHSA and CSAT.

Best wishes,

Nelba Chavez, Ph.D.
Administrator
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., CAS, FASAM
Director
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

Office of the Administrator—Office of Applied Studies—Office of Communications—Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Civil Rights—Office of Managed Care—Office of Minority Health—Office of Policy & Program Coordination—Office of Program Services

Media Outreach Materials  /  Targeted Outreach Materials  / Recovery Month Partners /   Resource Materials