National Recovery Month Brings Awareness To Addiction Treatment And Prevention
People who have overcome addiction deserve to be celebrated for their bravery and commitment to getting well. September is National Recovery Month, designated as such to highlight the accomplishments of those who have recovered or are on their way to recovery. National Recovery Month also puts the spotlight on those who work tirelessly to treat and prevent the disease of addiction.
The month of September also helps to bring awareness to addiction, which affects millions of Americans. Opiate addiction, in particular, is a disease that is gripping, powerful and sometimes resistant to certain treatments. This type of addiction has skyrocketed in the last several years as more and more prescriptions are written for powerful opioid pain medications.
This month-long national observance helps to get the word out that addiction treatment and mental health services are available to help patients overcome the disease and live a healthy, rewarding and productive life. Addiction recovery is more than possible, and proper treatment can help this condition.
Recovery month is in its 24th year and was started to honor the treatment professionals who help patients reclaim their lives from addiction. It was expanded a few years later to honor those people who were suffering from and recovering from substance abuse disorders. In 2011, the observance was expanded to include all aspects of behavioral health as they relate to addiction.
Millions of people from across the world have recovered from addiction to substances, and these achievements go largely unnoticed by the general public. National Recovery Month brings the issue to the forefront and tries to eliminate the stigma, shame, and guilt that are often tied to addiction.
