September is National Recovery Month. The goal is to increase awareness and understanding of substance use disorders and encourage individuals in need of recovery to seek help. There are millions of Americans whose lives have been transformed through recovery. Since these successes often go unnoticed by the broader population, the month provides a vehicle for everyone to celebrate these accomplishments. The 2016 Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery!” highlights the importance of families, communities, and individuals to share their stories and make a personal connection with the recovery movement.
Throughout the month of September, Tolosa Press will present a Recovery Month special section highlighting amazing stories and achievements, treatment service providers, and the resources available for those in need.
Locally, Alcoholics Anonymous works hard to connect to those outside its immediate circle of influence through two strategic committees: (CPC) Cooperation with the Professional Community & (PI) their Public Information Committee. Their goal is to inform professionals and future professionals about AA –what they are, where they are, what they can do, and what they cannot do. They attempt to establish better communication between AA groups and professionals and to find simple, effective ways of cooperating without affiliating. The primary purpose of members involved with these committees is to carry the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Working together, members of these local committees convey information to the general public, including the media.
Recovery Month began in 1989 as Treatment Works! Month, which honored the work of substance use treatment professionals in the field. The observance evolved into National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in 1998, when it expanded to include celebrating the accomplishment of individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. The observance evolved once again in 2011 to National Recovery Month to include all aspects of behavioral health and to be held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. The Recovery Month theme is carefully developed each year to invite individuals in recovery and their support systems to spread the message and share the successes of recovery.
About the Author
Andrea C. Wasko, MBA is a Business Strategist with an extensive background in the medical and recovery fields. She was the Executive Director of the largest provider of Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services in the Bay Area and a member of the Prop 63 Mental Health Services Act Strategy Team. She had the privilege to see thousands of alcoholics, addicts and their families recover. More info: httpss://www.facebook.com/andreacwaskobusinessstrategist/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawasko
