Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Press Release

Contact: Ivette Torres/Leah Young
June 12, 2001
Phone: (301) 443-5052
Additional Info: www.samhsa.gov

New Recovery Month 2001 Activities Set for September
TV and Radio PSAs Unveiled

The new 2001 National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month observance materials were released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The theme for this year's September observance is "We Recover Together: Family, Friends and Communities." The materials are designed to encourage participation and involvement in the observance by local, regional and national organizations and coalitions interested in supporting individuals in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.

CSAT has developed TV and radio public service announcements that underscore the benefits and effectiveness of addiction treatment. The spots also promote a motivational message of encouragement for those in need of alcohol or drug addiction treatment, which directs the listeners to seek help. This is the 12th annual Recovery Month effort that seeks to involve people in recovery, treatment providers, elected officials, policy makers, education leaders, judges, health providers, the faith community, and many other sectors in activities that celebrate those in recovery and supports the gains made by those who provide addiction treatment services.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said that "Recovery Month is an opportunity for us to reach out and encourage those in need of addiction treatment to seek help. To make sure that services are available where they are needed, President Bush has announce we will conduct a state-by-state inventory of treatment needs and capacity and provide $1.6 billion over the next five years to fund treatment services."

Acting SAMHSA Administrator Joseph H. Autry III notes that "Our nation's citizens should not be punished for their addiction. An addiction is not a crime. An addiction is a disease that needs to be treated like any other. Recovery Month celebrates the contributions and achievements of people in recovery."

"Addiction treatment provides a beacon of hope for those ready to undertake the road to recovery," said H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., CSAT Director. Recovery Month is the perfect vehicle to bring home the message that families, friends and communities must work together to improve the odds for those in need of services," he added.

As the lead coordinator for the Recovery Month observance, CSAT partners each year with other public sector entities, national and local coalitions and organizations to develop the Recovery Month materials as well as other special events.

Recovery Month materials and activities include an activity kit, and will feature a series of seven web casts and web chats based on issues related to this year's Recovery Month theme: "We Recover Together: Family, Friends and Community."

A total of 19 community-based events designed to spotlight the need for substance abuse treatment and applaud those with the courage to enter treatment and remain in recovery are being planned for September in major U.S. markets. Cities targeted for the Recovery Month community-based activities include: Columbus or Cincinnati, Ohio, Baltimore, Phoenix, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, St Paul-Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Boston, Atlanta, New York, Hartford, Harrisburg and Bucks County, PA, Raleigh-Durham, Portland, OR, Madison, WI, Jacksonville, FL, St Louis or Kansas City, MO, and New Orleans.

A September Recovery Month kick-off news event is planned for September 6, in Washington, DC. There is also a "Run for Recovery" in greater metropolitan Washington D.C. planned for September 16 in Arlington, VA.

The Recovery Month kits, web casts and other materials and information are available at www.samhsa.gov. The web casts topics include: Overview of CSAT and Recovery Month; Treatment 101; What Families Can Do to Prevent and Intervene with Alcohol and Drug Problems; Exploring the Connection Between Addiction and Other Health and Social Problems; Children of Alcohol and Drug-Addicted Parents: Protecting our Future; The Science of Addiction and Treatment; and The Roles of Friends and Community in the Recovery Process.

In addition to visiting the Recovery Month site online, kits, materials and information can also be obtained by calling 1-800-729-6686.

CSAT is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States. Information on SAMHSA's programs is available on the Internet at www.samhsa.gov. News media requests should be directed to Media Services at (800) 487-4890.