Hands Across the Bridge

 Recovery Month is an annual observance that takes place during the month of September.

The Recovery Month observance highlights the societal benefits of substance abuse treatment, lauds the contributions of treatment providers, and promotes the message that recovery from substance abuse, in all its forms, is possible. The observance also encourages citizens to take action in helping to expand and improve the ability of effective substance abuse treatment for those in need. Each year a new theme or emphasis is elected for the observance.

Recovery Month provides a platform to celebrate people in recovery and those who served them. Each September, thousands of treatment programs around the country celebrate their successes and share them with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues in an effort to educate the public about treatment, how it works, for whom, and why. Substance abuse treatment providers have made significant accomplishments, having transformed the lives of untold thousands of Americans. These successes often go unnoticed by the broader population; therefore, Recovery Month provides a vehicle to celebrate these successes.

Recovery Month also serves to educate the public on substance abuse as a national health crisis, that addiction is treatable, and recovery is possible.

Recovery Month highlights the benefits of treatment for not only the affected individual, but for their family, friends, workplace, and society as a whole. Educating the public reduces the stigma associated with addiction and treatment. Accurate knowledge of the addiction helps people to understand the importance of supporting treatment programs, those who work within the treatment field, and those in need of treatment.