Overview of the Celebration
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), through its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), sponsors National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) each September as a way to draw attention to the importance of treatment for substance use disorders. Nationwide throughout the month of September, public and private sector organizations celebrate people in recovery and the many people who have helped them on their path to recovery. Recovery Month events and activities promote the successes of treatment programs in communities across the country, ultimately underscoring the message that treatment is effective and recovery is possible.
To help organizations reach their target audiences throughout the Recovery Month campaign, SAMHSA and more than 85 public and private sector organizations distribute comprehensive, user-friendly planning toolkits to a wide selection of organizations planning to hold Recovery Month events in September, ranging from organizations and agencies in the health care, criminal justice, education, business, and government sectors. The toolkits contain template media materials and a variety of audience-specific fact sheets and resources that can help organizations plan their September activities.
The planning toolkit recommends types of events that recipients can hold, including community rallies, legislative forums, and other events to promote treatment effectiveness to the media, key constituency groups, and special audiences. The materials in the toolkit also promote the current year's Recovery Month theme, encouraging communities to invest in addiction treatment services.
SAMHSA hosts a Recovery Month interactive Web site where materials can be accessed electronically or ordered. In addition, news and articles are posted and events held throughout the country are listed by locality. During Recovery Month, the activities throughout the country are numerous and vary according to the resources and level of effort put forth by the national and local sponsors. SAMHSA hosts both a national kick off media event in Washington, D.C. and multiple community events held in selected localities across the country. 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 focus 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. Individuals can also participate in Recovery Month by viewing the live webcasts, web chats and "Ask the Expert" forums on the Recovery Month Web site.
To complement the local media efforts, SAMHSA produces and/or redistributes television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) that highlight the effectiveness of treatment and encourage individuals with alcohol and drug disorders and/or their loved ones to call SAMHSA's 24 hour, toll free National Helpline, 1 800 662 HELP.
Recovery Month is the national opportunity to educate the public about the scope of the public health problem of alcohol and drug use disorders and the benefits of treatment and recovery. It is also a time when people in recovery celebrate their sobriety and help to dispel the negative stereotypes associated with those in need of treatment. According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health:
- An estimated 19.5 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users in 2003, meaning they had used an illicit drug at least once during the past month. Marijuana was used by 14.6 million persons, making it the most commonly used illicit drug.
- 119 million Americans aged 12 or older were current drinkers of alcohol, while 54 million (22.6 percent) participated in binge drinking at least once in the past 30 days.
- 70.8 million Americans (29.8 percent of the population aged 12 or older) reported current use of a tobacco product in 2003.
- An estimated 21.6 million Americans in 2003 were classified with dependence on or abuse of either alcohol or illicit drugs (9.1 percent of the total population aged 12 or older).
- An estimated 3.3 million people aged 12 or older (1.4 percent of the population) received some kind of treatment for a problem related to the use of alcohol or illicit drugs in the 12 months prior to being interviewed in 2003.
In celebration of the success of Recovery Month, each year a new theme is selected for the Recovery Month observance; the toolkit and supporting materials reflect the theme. The following report details the results of the 2004 campaign and the impact it has had on raising the public's awareness about alcohol and drug use disorders, addiction, treatment and recovery.
