Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors National Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders. National Recovery Month honors those in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders, and hopes to reduce the stigma attached to such disorders. This national observance, held every September, aims to educate Americans that treatment for substance use and mental health disorders is available and recovery is possible. National Recovery Month spreads awareness that treatment is effective, prevention works, and people can, and do, recover from substance use and mental health disorders.

Recovery Month began in 1989 as Treatment Works! Month, which honored the dedicated work of substance abuse professionals. It then evolved into National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in 1998, which expanded the observance to include celebrating the accomplishments of individuals in addiction recovery. In 2011, it transformed into National Recovery Month to include all aspects of behavioral health. Over the years, National Recovery Month has inspired millions of people to raise awareness about mental health and/or substance use disorders and spread hope that recovery is possible.

The theme for this year’s National Recovery Month is “Join the Voices of Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery!” This theme calls attention to the importance of family support throughout the recovery process, as well as invites recovering individuals and their families to share their recovery testimonials to encourage others to take the journey.

Substance Abuse: The Facts

Addiction is a chronic, progressive, and fatal disease if left untreated. Thus, it deserves to be taken seriously. National Recovery Month is an important observance that calls attention to the deadly nature of addiction, while also highlighting the important truth that recovery from addiction is possible. Addiction is a disease that affects both the mind and the body, and is nothing to be ashamed of. Recovery Month aims to decrease the stigma of addiction by educating Americans on the facts. One of the primary facts that we know about addiction is that it is a treatable disease. While it cannot be “cured,” addiction can be managed successfully like other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. There are evidence-based treatments that can help people stop abusing drugs and alcohol, and live happy, healthy productive lives in recovery.

We also know that addiction does not discriminate against any age, race, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, educational background, et cetera. As we mentioned above, addiction is a disease. It is not the result of a weak will or a moral failing; it is a brain disease that affects all types of people. Anyone can develop an addiction to drugs and alcohol, no matter who they are. Risk for addiction is influenced by a combination of biological, environmental, and behavioral factors. The more risk factors an individual has, the more likely he or she is to develop an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Substance use disorder is a progressive disease, which means that over time without treatment, it gets worse, never better. The good news is that even the most severe, chronic form of the disease can be managed, typically with long-term treatment, close monitoring, and support. National Recovery Month hopes to educate Americans that recovery from substance use disorder is possible with treatment. The national observance also celebrates the behavioral health providers who help struggling individuals recover from their addiction and mental health disorders.

Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders

The coexistence of both a mental health and substance use disorder is referred to as co-occurring disorders. According to SAMHSA, in 2014, approximately 7.9 million American adults had co-occurring disorders. Individuals with mental health disorders are more likely than those without mental health disorders to struggle with a substance use disorder. Co-occurring disorders can be difficult to diagnose and treat due to the complexity of symptoms. What exactly is the connection between substance use and mental health disorders? The most common issue connecting the two is the use of substances to self-medicate mental health issues. Unfortunately, using substances does not solve the problems that mental illness presents. Rather, using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate complicates the symptoms of the mental health disorder and makes treating both disorders more difficult. The untreated symptoms of a mental illness can cause an individual to struggle with remaining clean and sober, and untreated substance abuse issues renders mental health treatment ineffective.

The most accepted method of treating co-occurring disorders is an integrated treatment approach. According to SAMHSA, integrated treatment “requires collaboration across disciplines” and addresses both the substance use and mental health disorder, “each in the context of the other disorder.” Treatment that addresses both disorders simultaneously and in an integrated fashion is associated with better treatment outcomes, such as improved quality of life, reduced substance use, improved psychiatric symptoms and functioning, fewer arrests, and decreased hospitalization. Recovery from co-occurring disorders is possible, and that is the message of hope that National Recovery Month hopes to spread.

Recovery Starts Here

National Recovery Month is an important time for people both in recovery and not. For those in recovery, it is a time for them to celebrate their accomplishments and express their gratitude for the professionals who helped them along their journey. For those not in recovery, it is an important month of education and awareness-building. Recovery from substance use and mental health disorders is indeed possible.

If you are struggling with a drug and alcohol addiction and/or mental health disorder, reach out to Florida Addiction Treatment Center today. We are dedicated to providing individualized, effective, and holistic addiction treatment to help our clients recover from their substance use and mental health disorders. The time for recovery is now. All you have to do is make the first phone call and we will take it from there. Call us today to start your journey of recovery:

888-388-5756