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 to inspire government, business, and society to work toward enhancing Americans' access to alcohol and drug treatment programs, while celebrating people and families in recovery. 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 of 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.
Recovery Month is a national opportunity to educate the public about the scope of the public health problem of substance use disorders while recognizing the benefits of treatment and recovery. It is also a time when people in recovery celebrate their sobriety and help to dispel the stigma associated with addiction, treatment, and recovery. According to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:
- An estimated 19.1 million Americans, 7.9 percent of the population aged 12 or older, were current illicit drug users in 2004, 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 in 2004.
- An estimated 22.5 million Americans in 2004 were classified with dependence on or abuse of either alcohol or illicit drugs (9.4 percent of the total population aged 12 or older).
- More than 12 million people aged 12 or older have tried methamphetamine.
In particular, Recovery Month 2005 recognized the collective effort that goes into achieving recovery from substance use disorders. From health care professionals who proactively recognize and treat these disorders, to employers and insurers who provide affordable treatment options, to community and family members who offer acceptance and encouragement, meaningful recovery often involves a group of caring individuals who support the recovery of both the person experiencing a substance use disorder and the person's family members, who also are affected.
To raise awareness about the Recovery Month campaign each year, SAMHSA and more than 100 public and private sector organizations that serve as Recovery Month Planning Partners guide the creation and distribution of comprehensive, user-friendly planning toolkits and other materials to a wide selection of organizations planning to hold Recovery Month events in September, ranging from national and local 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 provides examples of types of events that recipients can hold, including community rallies, legislative forums, and other events to promote treatment effectiveness to the media and key constituency groups. Each year, a new theme is selected for the Recovery Month observance, and the toolkit, supporting materials, and events promote this theme. In 2005, the theme was "Join the Voices for Recovery.Healing Lives, Families & Communities."
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 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.
Each year, SAMHSA also hosts an interactive Recovery Month Web site where materials can be accessed electronically or hard copies ordered. In addition, news and articles are posted, and events held throughout the country are listed by locality. Individuals can also participate in Recovery Monthby viewing Webcasts, posting their individual stories of recovery, and participating in "Ask the Expert" forums on the Recovery MonthWeb site.
Finally, to complement local media efforts, SAMHSA produces and/or redistributes television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) in both English and Spanish, that highlight the effectiveness of treatment and encourage individuals with substance use disorders and/or their loved ones to call SAMHSA's 24 hour, toll free National Helpline, 1 800 662 HELP.
The following report details the results of the 2005 campaign and the impact it has had on raising community awareness about substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery.
