President Obama has announced September 2016 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery!”
The President wants everyone to recognize the millions of Americans proving that recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders is possible. He stated that:
“It is equally important for us however, to recognize that millions of American’s are still struggling with the disease of addiction. These individuals, those in recovery and those still suffering, are our family members, friends, and neighbors. When these people we love are not able to get the help they need, our communities and our country struggles, and we are not as strong as we could be. Addiction, and or substance use disorder is a disease of the brain, and there is much misconception surrounding it, these misconceptions have led to harmful stigmas, and have not helped anyone. By taking substance use disorders and addiction as seriously as we do other health epidemics, we could help a lot more people. We need to focus on primarily on the prevention and treatment of this deadly disease, people can and do recover so let’s support them in this. This disease can touch any American, whether they are rich, poor, privileged, famous, or living under a bridge, nobody is exempt.”
The Obama administration has made combating substance use disorders a priority in this country. They have worked closely with the Affordable Care Act, and insurance companies must now cover substance use disorder services as essential health benefits. So Join the Voices for Recovery, focused on the importance of family support throughout recovery. We invite families, loved ones, and other individuals to share their stories and triumphs in fighting substance use disorder, and hope to inspire other to follow in their footsteps.
