Overview of the Celebration
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), through its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), sponsors (Recovery Month) each September. Recovery Month events and activities have as main goal to inspire the government, business, and society to work in a collective effort to enhance the access to alcohol and drug treatment programs for all Americans. Another emphasis is celebrating the people and families in recovery and the many people who have helped them on their path of recovery by offering support. Recovery Month encompasses public and private sector organizations and individuals who sponsor or participate in events and activities that promote the successes of treatment programs in communities across the country, ultimately underscoring the message that treatment is effective and recovery is possible.
Recovery Month is a national observance designated to educate Americans about the scope of the public health problem of substance use disorders while recognizing the benefits of treatment and recovery. It is also a time when people in recovery celebrate their sobriety and help to dispel the stigma associated with addiction, treatment, and recovery. According to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:
- An estimated 22.5 million people aged 12 or older in 2004 needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, meaning they had used an illicit drug at least once during the past month.
- Among youth aged 12 to 17, an estimated 8.8 percent (2.2 million) were classified with substance dependence or abuse.
- An estimated 7.9 percent of Americans aged 12 or older (19.1 million) were current users of illicit drugs, meaning they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to being interviewed.
Recovery Month 2006 particularly recognized the collective effort that goes into achieving recovery from substance use disorders. From affected families who offer acceptance and encouragement, but have to cope with the substance use disorder of someone close, to labor organizations who are interested in providing treatment options and understanding, to adolescents and college students, who work on understanding and overcoming stigma and discrimination, meaningful recovery often involves a group of caring individuals who support the recovery of both the person experiencing a substance use disorder and the person's family members, who also are affected.
To raise awareness about the Recovery Month campaign each year, SAMHSA and more than 100 public and private sector organizations that serve as Recovery Month Planning Partners guide the creation and distribution of comprehensive, user-friendly planning toolkits and other materials to a wide selection of organizations planning to hold Recovery Month events in September. The planning partners range from national and local organizations and agencies in the health care, criminal justice, education, business, and government sectors.
The toolkits contain template media materials and a variety of audience-specific fact sheets and resources that can help organizations plan their September activities. The planning toolkit also provides examples of events that recipients can hold, including community rallies, legislative forums, and other events to promote treatment effectiveness to the media and key constituency groups. Each year, a new theme is selected for the Recovery Month observance, and the toolkit, supporting materials, and events promote this theme. In 2006, the theme was "Join the Voices for Recovery: Build a Stronger, Healthier Community."
During Recovery Month, the activities throughout the country are numerous and vary according to the resources and level of effort put forth by the national and local sponsors. SAMHSA hosts both a national kick off media event in Washington, D.C., and multiple community events in selected localities across the country. Activities taking place at the local level include community forums at which experts and legislators host a dialogue about local addiction treatment issues; health and information fairs sponsored by concerned community organizations; and other creative community based events, such as walks and runs. Many communities focus their efforts on the placement of special news features about people in recovery and the promotion of radio and television coverage about addiction treatment related issues.
Each year, SAMHSA also hosts an interactive Recovery Month Web site where materials can be accessed electronically or hard copies ordered. In addition, news and articles are posted, and events held throughout the country are listed by locality. Individuals can also participate in Recovery Month by viewing Webcasts, Podcasts, and posting their individual stories of recovery, and participating in "Ask the Expert" forums on the Recovery Month Web site.
To complement local media efforts, SAMHSA produces and/or redistributes television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) in both English and Spanish that highlight the effectiveness of treatment and encourage individuals with substance use disorders and/or their loved ones to call SAMHSA's 24 hour, toll free National Helpline, 1 800 662 HELP.
Recovery Month 2006 was a reported success, showcased in the awards that it has received for various elements of the campaign. From the Recovery Month Public Service Announcements (PSAs), to the quality and content of the www.recoverymonth.gov Web site, these awards give distinction to the Recovery Month efforts, as well as to all the individuals and organizations around the country that have contributed to the success of the 2006 campaign. To date, the campaign received seven national and international awards, including one award for the PSAs and six awards for the Web site. These awards are the 2006 Omni Interactive Award, the 2006 Aesculapius Award of Excellence, the 2006 Inkwell Award, the 2006 Freddie Award (2005 PSAs), the APEX Award of Excellence, the 2006 NAGC Gold Screen Award of Excellence (2005 Web site), and the 2006 Communicator Award of Distinction.
The following report details the results of the 2006 campaign and the impact it has had on raising community awareness about substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery.
