National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 

lombardCollege of DuPage Nursing Student Sara Nalbach asks, “Did you know that in 2008 Lombard joined The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in proclaiming September as National Recovery Month? (http://www.villageoflombard.org/1018/National-Alcohol-and-Drug-Addiction-Reco). Is it time for you or someone you love to come to and start the recovery journey?”

In its 27th year, Recovery Month aims to “educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life” (https://www.recoverymonth.gov/about). “The observance reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.”

The 2016 Recovery Month theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery!” This year’s theme highlights the important idea that addiction and recovery are not just about the addict; family, friends, co-workers-the entire support system can impact and be impacted by a person’s struggle with addiction (https://www.recoverymonth.gov/about/annual-themes).

There are many resources available to help the addict and those impacted by a loved one’s addiction to come to a new way of living that includes healthier choices in coping, stress management, self-care and overall mental and physical health. It is a personal journey, one that can start today.

What will you do this month to help yourself or someone you love who is struggling with addiction? Here are a few resources to get you started.

Edward-Elmhurst

An online Addiction Assessment: https://ha.healthawareservices.com/ra/survey/1770?_ga=1.233088922.524924055.1472595303

A great article about addiction and getting help:
https://www.eehealth.org/blog/2016/07/families-addiction-alcohol-substance-use

SAMHSA National Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

SAMHSA’s Youtube channel for Recovery Month:

DuPage County Alcoholics Anonymous:

24/7 hotline (630) 653-6556

http://www.aa-nia-dist40.org/

Northern Illinois Al Anon and Alateen:

(630) 627-4441

http: www.niafg.org/home_top/about

Recovery is an action. Come to recovery, come to a new way of living. Just make the call and take a step in a different direction than the one you are on. It just might save your life or the life of someone you love.

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