Every September for the past 30 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has sponsored Recovery Month. This important national observance is aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrating the people who get up each morning and bravely continue the journey of recovery.

Every month is Recovery Month at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, as we strive to educate both individuals and treatment professionals, sharing the expertise of our staff and our amazing Senior Fellows. We also work hard to raise awareness about mental health and substance use disorders as well as their underlying causes. And year-round our talented treatment teams address addiction, alcoholism, trauma, eating disorders, sex addiction and a range of co-occurring disorders, helping people find freedom and lasting recovery.

So while it may be business as usual for Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, we couldn’t agree more that it’s important to set aside time to raise awareness and educate. To share the latest information, to motivate the public, to pass along resources, to celebrate individual recovery stories, and to help those who may be struggling and not know where to turn.

As they mark three decades, SAMHSA has chosen the 2019 theme “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger.” In 2017, 19.7 million adults in the US experienced a substance use disorder and approximately 8.5 million adults had both a mental and substance use disorder. Roughly half of those adults did not receive services or treatment of any kind.

Now more than ever, we need to work together. That’s why we’ll be joining our voices with SAMHSA all month. Look for articles, social media posts, and highlights from our Senior Fellows as we champion the cause of recovery – in all its forms.

Some Sobering Addictions Facts:

• Roughly 19.7 million adults in the US experienced a substance use disorder. In 2017. (The National Survey on Drug Use)
• Approximately 11.4 million Americans 12 or older in the US misused opioids in 2017. (The National Survey on Drug Use)
• Up to 50% of individuals with eating disorders misused alcohol or illicit drugs, a rate five times higher than the general population. (National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders)
• Cocaine is on the rise in American communities with approximately 1 million people 12 or older using cocaine for the first time in 2017. (The National Survey on Drug Use)
• Up to 35% of individuals who abused or were dependent on alcohol or drugs have also had an eating disorder. (National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders)
• Sexual addiction-related disorders range from 3 to 6% of the population. While largely misunderstood, the condition causes serious psychosocial problems for sufferers. (National Institutes of Health)

For more on Recovery Month, visit recoverymonth.gov.