September is National Recovery Month and, as such, it’s an excellent opportunity to spread awareness about the dangers of addiction. It’s an equally excellent time to discuss the importance of seeking treatment with individuals living in active addiction. What some may not realize is that those of us in recovery can stay sober by giving back and helping others. People in recovery are well-prepared to inspire and encourage others to seek treatment, and National Recovery Month is the perfect time to do that.
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health condition, contact West Coast Recovery Centers today. Our programs offer evidence-based treatments, compassionate support, and a holistic approach to wellness. Together, we can put you on the path toward lasting recovery. What better time to do so than during National Recovery Month? Call today to learn more!
Understanding Addiction as a Serious Public Health Crisis
As mentioned, National Recovery Month is an excellent time for people to get others on the dangers of addiction. We’re experiencing a public health crisis due to the high volume of individuals struggling with addiction. There are also hundreds of people dying every day from a drug overdose because of this health crisis. That doesn’t even account for the individuals losing their lives because of alcohol poisoning or alcohol-related accidents or incidents.
Furthermore, individuals are experiencing severe mental health conditions because of substance use. Mental illness often manifests or escalates because of addiction. On the flip side, excessive drug or alcohol use can also lead to dependence and even the development of any number of mental health conditions ranging from anxiety or depression to severe psychosis.
Millions of people across the United States are struggling with SUD and mental illness. Oftentimes, it’s an untreated mental illness that can lead to the development of addiction. If that’s not a public health crisis, what is?
The Dangers of Untreated Addiction
If untreated, addiction can cause several more problems for people and, in many cases, cause irreparable damage. Some of the dangers and risks of untreated addiction may include:
- The development of severe physical health problems, which may include heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease, liver failure, and more
- Financial and legal troubles due to impulsive and erratic behavior
- Social isolation, withdrawal, and strained professional and interpersonal relationships
- Worsened mental health issues or the development of other mental health conditions
These outcomes of untreated addiction can cause havoc in every area of your life. It has the potential to cause unemployment, hurt your family, and put you at a serious risk of death by overdose. So, what can you do about it? Well, the first step is to acknowledge there’s a problem and seek proper treatment. Is there really a better time to do that than during National Recovery Month?
What Message Can National Recovery Month Communicate to Others?
National Recovery Month has been around since the late 1980s. For over 30 years, we’ve celebrated the importance of recovery, connection, and community. Maintaining recovery takes a village. People require support, compassion, and a community of friends, family, and peers to help them through.
With anything, it’s imperative to approach the topic of addiction, mental health, and recovery with kindness and compassion. It’s imperative to show kindness and compassion toward anyone because you can never truly know what someone is going through on any given day. Everyone’s fighting some sort of battle. National Recovery Month knows this and acknowledges that it’s only through supporting people that we can help people recover and stay sober from addiction.
Additionally, national Recovery Month embodies three essential points; prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can recover. These key points inspire hope to the millions of people yet to find recovery, have lost ones to addiction, or are doubting their own recovery journeys. Keeping these in mind is imperative when dealing with addiction.
At the end of the day, that’s what this month communicates to people. It offers them hope, inspiration, and encouragement. However, there’s another critical component to National Recovery Month – education.
Educating Others During National Recovery Month
Some of the effectiveness of National Recovery Month depends on each person’s efforts to inform and educate about the dangers of addiction and hope of recovery. So, how do we do this? Simply by dialoguing with friends, family, and the individuals in your life to help them understand what you’re going through. Take time to figure out how to best explain it to them, teach them about the science behind addiction, and explain how their support can help you maintain sobriety.
Admittedly, these conversations can be difficult. Some ways to make them a bit easier include:
- Preparing what you’d like to say ahead of time by gathering your thoughts and writing down talking point
- Providing them with resources that can further educate them on addiction, treatment, and recovery
- Sharing your recovery journey with others, mentioning what helps, what doesn’t, and the importance of their support
National Recovery Month is something to celebrate, and further educating people can make all the difference for you and others. Take advantage of this time and work toward spreading awareness and information about recovery this month, and if you are living in active addiction, consider treatment with West Coast Recovery Centers today!
September is National Recovery Month. Not only is this a time for educating individuals on the dangers of addiction and the effectiveness of treatment but it’s also a time for celebrating recovery and sharing the journey with a recovery community. Millions of people nationwide are struggling with addiction, mental illness, or both. Addiction is a public health crisis, and education, compassion, and support are the most effective ways to handle this crisis. Spend time this month discussing and educating friends, family, and loved ones about addiction, treatment, and recovery. For those still living in active addiction, contact West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509. We can guide you toward a path of sustainable sobriety today.