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An op-ed is one of the best ways to gain credible visibility for National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) and raise awareness about addiction treatment and recovery. Op-eds, short for “opposite editorials,” are opinion articles that are published opposite a publication’s editorial page. They try to influence public opinion and create a dialogue about issues affecting your community. Recovery Month is an essential element of one of SAMHSA’s 10 Strategic Initiatives that focuses on public awareness and support. The goal of this initiative is to increase the understanding of mental and substance use disorder prevention and treatment services to achieve the full potential of prevention, and help people recognize and seek assistance for these health conditions with the same urgency as any other health condition.
An op-ed to promote Recovery Month can be written by a local expert or treatment provider, thought leader, someone in recovery, or someone affected by another person’s substance use disorder. Use the tips provided below as a guide to write an original article, or tailor the sample op-ed at the end of this document as appropriate to meet your organization’s needs.
Remember to showcase this year’s Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Now More Than Ever!” It emphasizes how stress in our society may contribute to or exacerbate alcohol and/or drug use, which can lead to a substance use disorder or relapse. Your op-ed should incorporate the Recovery Month mission to encourage all people in need of help to seek treatment for substance use disorders, celebrate individuals and families in long-term recovery, and acknowledge those working in the field who provide recovery services. Also, to gain credibility, remember to mention that the national celebration is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Planning and Writing Your Op-ed
Before you begin writing your op-ed, follow several steps. First, take a stand on an issue related to addiction and recovery. For example, do you think your community needs more recovery support services? Or do misconceptions and discrimination against people with addiction and in recovery resonate in your local area? Whatever the issue, decide specifically what you want to address when writing your op-ed. You should consider the audience affected by the problem, and suggest potential solutions. Consider the following tips as you begin writing your op-ed:
- Open with a strong lead paragraph.
- State the argument up front.
- Be clear and brief.
- Include a central idea and support it with statistics and research.
- Tell your readers why they should care about the issue.
- Make an emotional connection by telling a personal or real-life story.
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Use active voice rather than passive voice.
- End with a realistic call to action.
At the end of your op-ed, include a brief paragraph that explains your qualifications. Include your full name, job title, and a description about yourself. Also, include your personal contact information with your submission, as many publications will call to verify your information before printing your op-ed.
Use the following resources to customize your op-ed to make it more appealing for local outlets to publish during Recovery Month. Local recovery and substance use disorder data make your argument stronger by demonstrating the true impact on your community, so only use national numbers if you don’t have access to community statistics. Resources include:
Submitting and Placing Your Op-ed
Remember that publications receive a large amount of op-eds and have high standards for publication. For example, top-tier publications such as The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal generally seek op-eds that focus on national or international issues, while your paper is more likely to publish local issues. Use the following tips for getting your op-ed published in traditional media outlets:
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Begin building a relationship with the editors months before you hope to publish an op-ed for Recovery Month. If possible, invite them to moderate events or meetings, or simply give them key information on local and state recovery issues.
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Submit the op-ed to one outlet at a time. Newspapers probably won’t run an op-ed if it will be or has been published in another outlet.
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Follow the publication’s guidelines for word count, which is typically less than 700 words, and submission preferences, such as receiving files via e-mail or fax.
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Include a cover letter that summarizes the op-ed and your expertise.
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Follow up with the editor approximately one week after submission so that he or she has had time to review the piece and offer constructive feedback.
Op-eds are not just for print publications. Use the following tips for getting your op-ed published online, either in the online version of a newspaper or in publications issued only online.
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Reach out to a publication’s Web site managing editor or Webmaster to see if your op-ed can be posted online, even if it has been rejected by the print version.
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Search for online news sites about community events that may be interested in using your op-ed as a guest article to highlight Recovery Month in your area.
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Consider submitting your op-ed to Web sites such as Slate, iVillage, and The Huffington Post, which are gaining in authority among Internet news sites.
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Revise your op-ed for use on blogs. Many op-eds can be rewritten in the form of a guest blog post on a community or specialty blog.
Either way you choose to submit an op-ed, whether through traditional or online outlets, be prepared to make changes or additions to the op-ed based on the editor’s comments. If your op-ed is rejected, consider modifying and resubmitting your piece or forwarding it to another outlet. Also, remember that if your op-ed is published, it may be picked up by Google News, Yahoo News, or other sites that collect news from a variety of sources, yielding a wider reach. Search online a few days after your submission is published to track your coverage and see if it has been reprinted anywhere else.
Promote Recovery Month and Share Your Op-ed’s Outcomes and Successes
Share the success of your op-ed placements by:
Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs
SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor
Rockville, MD 20857
More Resources on Recovery Month and Substance Use Disorders
The following resources provide additional information about Recovery Month and substance use disorders:
- Substance use, treatment, recovery, and referral information is available by calling SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP, or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD), for free and confidential information in English and Spanish, or at SAMHSA’s Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment.
- All materials from this planning toolkit and an extensive array of relevant studies and information are available electronically at the Recovery Month Web site, http://www.recoverymonth.gov.
Inclusion of Web sites and event examples in this document and on the Recovery Month Web site does not constitute official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Op-ed Template
Approximately 528 words
Working Together to Combat Stress and Substance Use Disorders
Substance use disorders are a treatable, yet serious health problem that can be exacerbated by a variety of external circumstances, including stress. Addressing this problem and finding a positive outlet for dealing with stress is now more important than ever, given the many causes of stress that exist today. In the spirit of the annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) campaign, a national initiative presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), I’m urging all members of [community/city/town] to take a few minutes and recognize the negative impact this disease has on our community. It also is important for all people to understand that recovery is possible through a variety of treatment resources and recovery support programs.
Americans face varying levels of stress at work, at home, in our families, and in our communities. In 2008, nearly half of Americans reported that their stress levels increased during the past year, with as many as 30 percent rating their average stress as extreme, according to the American Psychological Association’s 2008 Executive Report. Whether this stress is caused by the recent economic downturn, a career transition, a big life change, or an increase in drinking or drug use because of these issues, educating our community about how stress can contribute to addiction and affect all people is essential in combating the misconceptions associated with the disease.
Having [been in recovery for XX years / worked in the recovery field for XX years / other statement of personal experience], I have firsthand knowledge of the devastation that stress and addiction brings to people and their families. Addiction is a real issue, with an estimated 23.1 million people needing treatment for an alcohol or illicit drug use problem in 2008, according to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Locally, [number] people needed treatment last year in [community].
The good news is that we can help people address their addiction and live a healthy and productive life in recovery. Together, we can do the following:
- Encourage our friends, colleagues, or family members who are suffering to enter treatment facilities or seek recovery resources.
- Reach out to individuals throughout our communities to prevent stigma against people receiving treatment services on military bases and in adult living centers.
- Offer all people in our community strategies to combat and manage stress, such as learning to reduce unnecessary or extra responsibilities, exercising regularly, identifying, removing, or reducing the source of stress, or seeking professional support or assistance.
This September, in conjunction with the Recovery Month commemoration, I call on all people in [community] to improve the lives of those suffering from addiction, support individuals in recovery, and recognize the individuals who work in our community to provide recovery services. To maximize this opportunity, I urge local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations to showcase details about local treatment and recovery resources on their Web sites and link to additional information available at http://www.recoverymonth.gov.
[Include author name, title, and brief summary of qualifications that make him or her an expert.]
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