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This September is the 15th Annual National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month Join the Voices for Recovery…NOW! Illness is an inevitable and natural part of life that nearly everyone will experience. When a friend or loved one is diagnosed with heart disease or cancer, our reaction is to reach out to that person and provide support—just as we hope that we will find support if faced by such a challenge. Why is it, then, that people who are impacted by the disease of drug or alcohol addiction frequently find themselves shunned instead of supported? According to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.5 million Americans age 12 and up were identified as current illicit drug users—this translates to 8.3 percent of the population age 12 and up. The same survey indicates that 23 percent of people of the same age group had participated in binge drinking (defined as five or more drinks on the same occasion) within the last month. Nationwide, only 10.3 percent of people who needed treatment for an alcohol or drug problem in 2002 actually received it. How can it be that so few people who need help to overcome substance abuse get that help, especially when substance use is so widespread? A part of the answer is that there is a stigma attached to addiction that prevents people from seeking the help that will begin the recovery process. The irony of this unfortunate situation is underscored by a May 2004 poll sponsored by Faces and Voices of Recovery, which indicated that two thirds of those polled were impacted by addiction, either their own or that of a close relative. Surprisingly, the same percentage felt that there is a stigma attached to addiction and recovery. The fact that an illness that touches so many people is still stigmatized indicates a need to change the way society as a whole views addiction and recovery. This change will be achieved one person at a time, as individuals realize that addiction is in fact an illness and that taking the first steps towards recovery is a brave one that deserves praise and encouragement instead of blame and criticism. September, 2004 is the 15th annual celebration of Recovery Month. Recovery Month celebrates the successes of people in recovery who have overcome stigma, denial, and other barriers to treatment—and as a result are leading healthy and productive lives. Recovery Month acknowledges the men and women in the treatment field who dedicate their lives to helping people with alcohol and drug use disorders. This theme of this year’s celebration is “Join the Voices for Recovery…NOW!” We are reaching out not only to those who are struggling with addiction, but also to those who can lend their support, those who can help shatter the stigma attached to recovery by providing understanding. Please remember that recovery benefits everyone—not just the person with the addiction. Be a champion for recovery — Join the Voices for Recovery…Now! and link a friend, a family member, or a colleague experiencing a substance abuse problem to a recovery resource that will assist them in their road to recovery. Sincerely,
Daniel J. Kill, LCSW, BCD
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