Celebrating Recovery from Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Drug Addiction Recovery Month
September 2008 marks the 19th anniversary of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
People around the country just like you are organizing events to bring awareness to the fact that treatment really does work and the chances of recovery from addiction are higher when individuals and families have access to the right resources.
Enlist Community Groups and Leaders
Addiction counselors, pastors and clergy members, employers, friends and family, recovery groups, treatment centers, and social service organizations can all benefit from sponsoring, planning, organizing and participating in Recovery Month outreach campaigns.
Public Awareness Events
Educational and anecdotal articles for the local paper, banners on your personal blogs and websites, sporting events and athletic marathons, radio interviews, school presentations, information booths at health fairs and farmer’s markets are all excellent ways to get the message of recovery into the public eye.
Publicity and Media Outreach
Focusing on the people affected by substance abuse brings a real face to the concept of “addiction” and highlights the fact that it is a disorder that impacts people from all walks of life. Speaking to the media about your personal experiences touches people who may otherwise never get past their own prejudices about alcohol and drug addiction.
RecoveryMonth.gov offers tips on crafting media advisories, press releases, op-eds, proclamations, and public service announcements that can be submitted to your local media networks for publication or broadcast about your event.
Drug Education for the Masses
Downloadable documents that discuss everything from commonly abused substances, the importance of treatment for a person addicted to alcohol or drugs, and audience-specific materials that speak directly to a group’s interests will help aid your message during Recovery Month and all year long. Print them out and pass them around wherever you go to spread the word about addiction and recovery.
Connect with Other Event Organizers
Advocating the importance of recovery methods is just the beginning. Connecting with the people around you who encourage and support your efforts to stay clean keeps shame from beating down your personal resolves. Coming to face to face with other addicts who struggle with similar internal demons creates a bond that acknowledges the triumphant effort involved in the work of recovery.
Tell Us: What are some ways that you celebrate your recovery? And if you haven’t taken the plunge yet, what are some ways that you will celebrate your recovery?
Tags: Alcohol Rehab, alcoholism treatment, drug addiction recovery month, drug addiction rehabilitation, Drug Addiction Treatment
