September is National Recovery Month

While the celebration of those in recovery is widespread today, this wasn’t always the case. Open discussions about addiction and mental health were not as common in past decades as they are today. People were much less candid about their experiences and instead kept their struggles to themselves.

In 1989, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) saw the need to increase the public’s awareness of the reality of addiction. The organization started a campaign called “Treatment Works! Month” that was dedicated to acknowledging substance abuse professionals doing what was, at the time, a mostly thankless job.

SAMHSA saw incredible success with its campaign during its first decade. In 1998, they decided to expand the awareness month to also acknowledge people in alcohol and drug addiction recovery. The name changed to “National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month”, encompassing the campaign’s newer, broader focus.

Finally, in 2011, SAMHSA widened the lens again by including individuals living with and recovering from mental illness. It adopted its current name, “National Recovery Month”, a shift to make space for the ever-evolving landscape and understanding of mental health and recovery.

The need for National Recovery Month has only risen since its inception in 1989. Rates of substance abuse and mental illness are higher today than they were 30 years ago. Drug-involved overdose deaths have been trending upwards since the turn of the century. More than 700,000 people have lost their lives due to drug overdose since 2000.

While a slight dip in drug overdose deaths in 2018 gave people a sense of hope for continued decline, the exponential rise in 2020 was a disheartening shock. Overdose rates rose more than 30% between 2019 and 2020. There’s still a need for celebrating those in recovery and supporting those who have yet to achieve it.

The number of people affected by substance use disorder and mental illness is alarming, too. Millions of people throughout the United States still need help and support to overcome their substance abuse or symptoms. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, out of the people ages 12 and older in the U.S.:

Understanding the signs of addictive behavior is an important way to know if someone in your life needs to reconsider their substance use. Addiction is a progressive condition, so the signs are more subtle in the beginning. As their use progresses, though, addiction may be fatal. The sooner they find help the better. Keep an eye out for the following signs:

Promoting the need for and importance of evidence-based treatment is a primary focus of National Recovery Month. Evidence-based treatment methods are the best approaches to working with individuals in recovery. They are designed to address certain aspects and specific needs of those battling addiction or mental illness.