According to the Recovery Research Institute, over 20 million people in the U.S. suffer from a substance abuse disorder. It’s estimated that nearly one in every four adults living with a mental health disorder also suffers from a substance use disorder. These disorders can include (but aren’t limited to):
● Anxiety
● Depression
● Personality disorders
● Schizophrenia
While substance use and mental health disorders are prevalent, they do not present a hopeless situation. The proper intervention, treatment, and support can put an addict on a successful road to recovery.
That is the reality for many Americans seeking treatment options to take back the life they love and deserve. Recovery options are worth investing in, and the process is worth celebrating. That’s what makes national recovery month so important.
Understanding National Recovery Month
In 2021, national recovery month is once again being held through September. This national observance is a chance for citizens to step back and look at the current drug abuse and mental health crisis with optimism and hope instead of despair.
Holistic treatment for mental illness and recovery patients is on the rise across the U.S. Often, these conditions go hand-in-hand, and dual diagnosis treatments are more important than ever.
National recovery month is an opportunity to focus on new, alternative recovery practices and treatment services.
Throughout national recovery month, we honor and celebrate those service providers and community members who make recovery options possible. It’s a time to revitalize excitement around integrating treatment facilities and programs in communities across the country.
Raising Awareness One National Recovery Month at a Time
National recovery month is a moment to focus on innovative recovery options. It’s also a chance to raise awareness and spread the word about recovery.
This annual September observance allows communities across the U.S. to look more closely at how substance abuse affects individuals. Beyond that, it’s a time to look at how addiction is far-reaching when it comes to family and community, too.
Active steps towards recovery can be life-saving for anyone struggling with substance use disorder. These steps can prove just as essential for the well-being of society.
An All-Encompassing Recovery Theme
Every September, national recovery month is assigned a theme. This theme gears the observance toward a specific aspect of recovery.
In 2021, the theme of the national recovery month is “Recovery is for everyone”一every person, every family, and community. In its 31st year, national recovery month will focus on the connections that link everyone affected by substance use and mental health disorders.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an active supporter and partner of National Recovery Month. The organization works with another voluntary group serving the addiction community known as Faces and Voices of Recovery. The two teams join forces to plan events, manage social media, and distribute information for the month. Faces and Voices of Recovery gained official (legal) control of National Recovery Month for the first time in 2020.
Celebrating a Holistic Approach to Recovery
Throughout National Recovery Month, observers celebrate an increasingly holistic approach to treatment and recovery. The long-term success of overcoming a substance abuse disorder often depends on the support of family and friends.
More addiction rehab programs and facilities are recognizing the importance of including loved ones in the recovery process. That is because the intense experiences that addicts face significantly affect the family dynamic, too.
The individual struggling with a disease certainly requires specialized treatment. However, families and friends of that individual also need various tools and resources to learn to deal with associated challenges.
Addiction has a way of ripping families apart and creating chaos and dysfunction in relationships. Whether it’s family members denying a loved one has a problem or not knowing how to help that loved one find treatment, the family unit plays a vital role in recovery.
National Recovery Month is a time to look more closely at how essential options like family therapy and family programming can be to recovery. Patients in rehabilitation facilities that offer these holistic options often see higher long-term recovery success rates.
That is because families are recovering together with their loved ones. Family recovery programs provide education around substance abuse and mental health disorders. They also offer a safe space to share frustrations and understand how to support an addict after treatment.
With time, these recovery resources can rebuild a family that’s fallen apart due to addiction. That is a fact worth celebrating!
Time to Normalize Recovery Efforts in the U.S.
Holistic and inclusive treatment options provide many benefits. That said, there’s still a stigma associated with addiction and mental illness in America.
National Recovery Month is an excellent chance to work on normalizing mental health and substance use treatment and promote meaningful conversations around these topics. When more conversations happen around these issues, it’s easier to remove shame and replace it with education and support.
When family, friends, and colleagues can rally around their loved ones in recovery without fear of stigma, the recovery community can benefit greatly. Removing the stigma makes it easier for those suffering from addiction to take the necessary steps towards regaining their health.
Ignoring the existence of mental health disorders and substance use disorders can no longer be an option. With so many treatment solutions out there, recovery is within reach.
For someone struggling with substance use or a mental health disorder, this starts with checking into a rehabilitation facility. However, family and friends who normalize the situation by encouraging an addict to seek help make that person’s recovery more achievable.
Family and friends can also normalize recovery options by educating themselves about potentially enabling behaviors they’re promoting. From here, encouraging an addict to seek the help they need becomes more successful.
Normalizing recovery options begins with family and friends taking time to learn how addiction works. Understanding the disease at its core makes it easier to stage an intervention that could save a loved one’s life.
All of that said, recovery efforts don’t end when treatment in a facility is complete. Long-term recovery requires the normalization of ongoing efforts. Supportive family and friends that take time to understand the options will see incredible changes in their loved one as a result.
It may come down to spending time with that person after treatment is complete. It might mean helping them stick to post-care plans. Sometimes, it’s a matter of identifying potential relapse triggers to help stop them before they take hold.
Throughout National Recovery Month, all of these important factors and more are highlighted and celebrated. With time, the goal is that they will become normalized across America.
A Month to Look Closely at Recovery Hurdles
National Recovery Month celebrates successes in recovery options out there. However, it’s also an important time to refresh and recharge our perspective on the challenges people face in accessing essential treatment options.
Many rehabilitation programs require a time commitment of anywhere from 15 to 60 consecutive days. That can be a major stress point for those currently employed and looking into recovery options. There’s often an underlying fear that attending to recovery needs could cost someone their job and income.
A lack of insurance coverage can also stand in the way of someone getting the help they need. While most insurance plans offer some type of coverage for substance use treatment and mental health disorders, it may not be enough. Not to mention those who don’t have insurance coverage at all.
Family responsibilities can also make accessing recovery resources for substance use and mental health disorders quite tricky. It can feel overwhelming for parents of young children to consider backup childcare options during these vital treatment times.
Adult children taking care of elderly parents face a similar struggle. There is a tendency to put off personal recovery in the name of taking care of parents who can’t care for themselves.
Each of the struggles mentioned above is very real across the country. They can also be critical factors in someone’s decision to receive (or not receive) the treatment they need and deserve.
National Recovery Month creates a time for everyone to acknowledge these issues in detail. The observance is a chance to explore potential options that might remedy the situation. It’s a conversation that’s always worth having.
Reach Out Today
If you or a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder or mental health disorder, the team at The Haven is here to help. Our caring team offers comprehensive services for individuals and families alike looking to regain control of the life they love and deserve.
Reach out today to learn more about our services and programs. Speak to one of our compassionate representatives today to see how treatment options can improve your life for the long term.
