September 17, 2021
Certified as a national event by presidential proclamation in 2017, National Recovery Month is observed every September to celebrate those in recovery from addiction or substance use disorder. The wider recovery community is also celebrated, including treatment providers, public service organizations, 12-step groups, and anyone else who contributes to the larger, shared recovery effort.
In addition to this celebratory aspect, the observance of Recovery Month extends to several supporting aims. One is to increase awareness and understanding of substance use disorder and encourage those in need of help to seek treatment. Another is to promote the best in evidence-based addiction treatment and recovery practices. A further aim is to emphasize that addiction often coincides with mental health struggles, such as anxiety, depression and others, and intersects with them as co-occurring disorders.
This year’s theme is “Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community,” highlighting the universality of the experience of addiction and recovery and stressing the always pressing need for inclusion and diversity in our recognition of the sweep of substance use disorder.
Defined by its mission of saving one million lives from the disease of addiction, Recovery Centers of America (RCA) pursues the aims of Recovery Month every day of the year. Coinciding with this month’s observance, RCA’s addiction treatment center in Devon is holding an open house on Friday, Sept. 17 to showcase the facilities and specialized addiction treatment programs serving the greater Philadelphia region. The open house will feature guest speakers, including facility leadership and alumni, as well as facility tours and lunch.
RCA’s Medication Assisted Treatment clinics are also hosting Narcan training events throughout the greater Philadelphia area in September and October. Narcan is a nasal spray used to counteract an opioid overdose in an emergency situation. The events are open to anyone in the communities who wish to attend. You can register and join these events here:
Trenton Healthcare Clinic
Friday, September 24
8 a.m. & 10 a.m. (both for patients only)
12 p.m. & 1 p.m. (open to the public)Saturday, September 25
10 a.m. (patients only)
11:30 a.m. (open to the public)
Register hereWoodbridge Healthcare Clinic
Friday, October 1
8 a.m. & 10 a.m. (both for patients only)
12 p.m. & 1 p.m. (open to the public)Saturday, October 2
10 a.m. (patients only)
11:30 a.m. (open to the public)
Register here
Whether you’re in recovery yourself, support someone who is, or simply wish to promote the cause, there are many ways to get involved:
• Events: Attend an event or start your own. Here are some events happening in and around the Philadelphia region:
9/18: PRO-ACT Recovery Walk | Philadelphia, PA
9/18: Family Recovery Day | Bethlehem, PA
9/18: RASE Project’s 9th Annual Comedy Show with Craig Shoemaker | Harrisburg, PA
• Social media: Show your support, promote events, and share images of them on social media using the hashtag #recoverymonth.
• Proclamation: Write to local and national representatives, encouraging them to sign proclamations in support of Recovery Month, and upload your own proclamation to the National Recovery Month 2021 website.
• Apparel: Sport an official recovery mask, hoodie or t-shirt.
• Emblems: Download letterheads, web banners and logos to circulate the imagery.
While the large-scale, multi-tiered endeavor of addiction prevention, treatment and recovery precedes and follows September, the observance of Recovery Month allows for crucial recognition of the milestones we’ve reached and reminds us how far we have yet to go.
If you or a loved one is struggling with drugs and alcohol, call Recovery Centers of America now at 1-800-RECOVERY.
