Recovery Month Includes Veterans

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month), held annually in September, is a celebration of people and families in recovery from substance use disorders.

Military personnel, veterans, supporting organizations, health care providers, and family members can contribute to Recovery Month in many ways. For example, veterans can share their stories with other military personnel and veterans who may have a substance use or mental health disorder or a co-occurring disorder.

SAMHSA is offering an outreach information fact sheet on substance use and co-occurring disorders among veterans and the military in this year's Recovery Month comprehensive planning toolkit.

The fact sheet, "Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders Among Military and Veterans," presents reasons for veterans' susceptibility to substance use disorders, barriers to treatment, stigma, and stress-related problems. For health care providers, the fact sheet also explains the need to screen veterans for substance use.

Statistics and data are included from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the U.S. Veterans Administration, and the Department of Defense as well as a variety of other published reports and studies.

The fact sheet is available on the Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov/2006/
kit/html/targeted_outreach/military.aspx.

For Recovery Month information and materials, visit the Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov or call 1 (800) 662-HELP (4357).

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