By Haley Kennedy, Recovery Coach – 9.9.2022 –
Every Person. Every Family. Every Community.
‘Each September, Recovery Month works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.’
What Is Recovery Month?
Recovery Month (which has removed “National” from its title to be more inclusive for EVERYONE EVERYWHERE) is sponsored by Faces & Voices of Recovery, a recovery advocacy organization. The goal of Recovery Month is to increase awareness about substance use disorders, decrease stigma, and celebrate successful recovery. It is a time to promote the benefits of prevention, and treatment, not just for substance use but also mental health disorders. It is a chance to celebrate people in recovery and to appreciate all the contributions made by service providers. It’s the time to share the message that recovery is possible, and that behavioral health is essential for overall health.
5 Ways to Get Involved
1. Host an Event
The Recovery Month site offers lots of event ideas, or you (or your organization) could host your own. If you host an event, you can also post it on the Recovery Month website so others can find it. The site has banners and customizable materials you can use in your online community, like your website or social media profiles.
2. Attend an Event
An online calendar is available on the Recovery Month website to help you find virtual and in-person events. You can filter the calendar and search by type of event, location, or cost.
PCO is hosting our own Recovery Month event this year: First Annual Recovery Fest Friday September 30th at Pilgrim Memorial Park in Plymouth from 5pm to 8pm where there will be live music, food trucks, entertainment for children and families, and more!
There is a rally “Smash the Stigma Event” on September 17th at Town Hall Park in Great Barrington from 12pm to 3pm that’ll include family activities, food, lawn games, and music.
And Alyssa’s Place is hosting a meet & greet/ book signing with Brandon Novak that’ll include refreshments on September 23rd at the Gardner City Hall from 430pm to 7pm.
3. Promote Recovery Month on Social Media
- Use Recovery Month materials on your own blog, website, or social profiles.
- Share your recovery journey or links to other recovery journey stories.
- Engage with Recovery Month’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
- Share links to recovery resources on your profiles.
- Share positive messages about prevention, treatment, and recovery.
- Promote events that relate to Recovery Month or recovery support.
- Use hashtags with your post #recoverymonth.
4. Encourage a Proclamation
Encouraging a proclamation is something you can do to show support for Recovery Month and bring attention to relevant issues like drug laws and the epidemic. Through the recovery month website, you can write to representatives and local government officials, encouraging them to sign proclamations in support of Recovery Month; remind them that this simple act demonstrates a common commitment to improving access to recovery.
5. Educate a Friend
By talking about substances, providing education, and sharing recovery stories, we can reduce the stigma and encourage people to seek the treatment they need. Opening a conversation is an important step toward helping people understand addiction is a disease and that recovery is possible. These conversations make it possible for us to transform our “I” into “We” to connect our communities, build resiliency, and ensure everyone has the same chance at recovery.
