Overview of the Celebration
Held annually in September, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA/CSAT). The month-long observance unites public and private sector partner organizations nationwide in an effort to reduce the stigma associated with treatment of substance abuse. Recovery Month also celebrates people in recovery and those who serve them. Each year, Recovery Month provides a platform for thousands of treatment programs around the country to celebrate their successes and to host events and activities that involve their neighbors, friends, and colleagues in an effort to educate the public about treatment, how it works, for whom, and why.
In support of these efforts, SAMHSA/CSAT and more than 75 public and private sector partner organizations develop and distribute Recovery Month kits to various public and private organizations, coalitions, and agencies from a variety of disciplines including the health care, education, business, criminal justice, and government sectors, among others. This user-friendly, comprehensive package of materials is designed to assist the recipients with localized efforts such as community rallies, legislative forums, and other events to promote treatment effectiveness to the media, key constituency groups, and special audiences, and through its theme, encourage communities to invest in addiction treatment services.
SAMHSA/CSAT hosts a Recovery Month interactive web site where materials can be accessed electronically or ordered. In addition, news and articles are posted and local events being held throughout the country are listed by locality. During Recovery Month, the activities throughout the U.S. are numerous and vary according to the resources and level of effort put forth by the national and local sponsors. For example, each year SAMHSA/CSAT hosts a national kick-off media event in Washington, D.C. and live web chats and webcasts on Recovery Month and treatment issues. Activities taking place at the local level include community forums at which experts and legislators host a dialogue about local addiction treatment issues; health and information fairs sponsored by concerned community organizations; and other creative community-based events, such as walks and runs. Many communities also focused their efforts on the placement of special news features about people in recovery and the promotion of radio and television coverage about addiction treatment-related issues.
To complement the local media efforts, SAMHSA/CSAT produces television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) that highlight the effectiveness of treatment and encourage individuals with substance abuse problems and/or their loved ones to call SAMHSA/CSAT's 24-hour, toll-free National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP. Each year, a new theme or emphasis is selected for the Recovery Month observance; both the kit and the PSAs address the theme.
|
