Recovery Month
Each year, millions of people suffer from addiction, and
countless more are affected by someone else's problem. Every September, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Recovery Month (Recovery Month) works to help more people benefit from a
life-changing recovery process.
Sponsored by the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT),
this year's Recovery Month theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We
Learn, Together We Heal.” It emphasizes the need to use all available
resources, in our communities and on the Internet, to educate people about the
disease and to help those with substance use disorders, and those close to
them, to get help and recover. It also celebrates the power of community
support and understanding. By opening a dialogue about the harmful effects of
alcohol and drug addiction on families, friends, and communities, we can
provide hope, healing, and better help those struggling with substance use
disorders embark on a successful journey of long-term recovery.
A substance use disorder does not discriminate against its
victims based on age, race, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or
community. This disease controls people's lives and has devastating effects on
their friends and families. Substance use disorders are one of the most deadly
ailments, with one in four deaths each year attributed to alcohol, tobacco, or
illicit drug use.
The following substances contribute to numerous negative
health issues:
- Heavy
drinking contributes to illnesses associated with each of the top three
causes of death: heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
- Cocaine
has been shown to contribute to deaths from heart attacks, respiratory
failure, strokes, and seizures. In extremely rare occasions, sudden death
can occur on the first use of cocaine.
- Heroin
is associated with fatal overdoses and infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS
and hepatitis — particularly in people who inject the drug.
- Methamphetamine,
known to many as speed or meth, can cause psychotic behavior,
hallucinations, and stroke when used over a long period of time.
Sadly, only a small number of people received the help they
needed in 2007: Of the 23.2 million people (9.4 percent of people aged 12 or
older) who needed treatment for a substance use disorder, only 3.9 million
people (1.6 percent of the population) received some kind of treatment for a
problem related to alcohol or drug use in 2007. Specifically, an estimated 2.2
million people had received treatment at a self-help group within the last
year. However, as many as 20.8 million people needed but did not receive
treatment at a specialty facility in the past year.
There are multiple barriers to receiving treatment,
including:
- Perceptions and consequences — Many
people do not get treatment because they are concerned about what their
families, friends, community, or employers may think. During 2004 through 2007,
8.9 percent of people who made an effort to get treatment, but did not
receive it at a specialty facility, were concerned that getting help might
cause neighbors or their community to have negative opinions of them, and
7 percent thought it might have a negative consequence on their jobs.
Despite these perceptions, fewer than 20 percent of people in America
actually would think less of a friend or relative who is in recovery from
addiction. Family and friends can break through these barriers by encouraging
the person to access services and by supporting others in their community
who have taken steps to get treatment.
- Denial — While it can be
challenging to help people even if they have admitted they need treatment
or recovery services, it can be even more difficult to help people who are
in denial about their addiction. In 2007, an estimated 93.6 percent of
people with substance use disorders who needed treatment did not receive
it because they felt they did not need it.
In addition, the cost of treatment is sometimes a barrier,
although recent changes have made insurance coverage for treatment and recovery
services more accessible. The October 2008 passage of the Paul Wellstone and
Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which expanded the
Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, provides equity in the coverage of mental
health and substance use disorders compared with traditional medical coverage.
It does so by ensuring that group health care plans do not charge higher
co-payments, coinsurance, or deductibles than those used for other diseases,
and do not impose out-of-pocket limits and lower day and visit limits.
The Recovery Process
Heals
A successful recovery journey hinges on an individualized,
comprehensive, and integrated approach to the healing process. A variety of
methods exist to help people in their process of recovery. Some people recover
on their own; others recover through treatment and/or the assistance of
self-help, mutual-aid groups, or medication-assisted therapies. A holistic and
recovery-oriented approach to overcome substance use disorders uses a range of
age-, gender-, drug-, faith-, and culturally appropriate services to help
people recover physically, mentally, and spiritually. By working with a
person's physical, environmental, and spiritual background and any mental
health issues surrounding a person's addiction to provide individualized care,
there is an opportunity to improve a person's success in recovery.
In particular, for some people, substance use might be a
coping mechanism for other serious emotional and health issues. Addressing any
underlying problem can repair the deeper problems associated with addiction.
For example, in 2007, 22.1 percent of adults aged 18 or older with serious
psychological distress also were dependent on or abused illicit drugs or
alcohol.
The recovery process should be specific to the person, and
should involve families and friends, if possible. Elements may include:
- Receiving
medical attention through detoxification and individual and/or group
therapy in an inpatient treatment setting
- Focusing
on improving overall health and redefining oneself
- Exploring
spirituality through faith-based communities
- Changing
social interactions and expanding social networks — particularly to include
others in recovery and participate in mutual support groups
- Empowering
oneself by helping others
A well-rounded recovery support network complements this
process and is central for successful rehabilitation from addiction. Family,
friends, employers, and other concerned community members must be supportive,
as recovery and resilience involve a lifelong process of healing.
The Internet — A
Recovery Resource
Much has changed since Recovery Month first began 20 years
ago, including the advent of the Internet, which offers a unique opportunity to
teach, foster knowledge, and provide support. The number of people turning to
the Internet for information and connections to other people has skyrocketed
over the last decade. According to the Pew Internet & American
Life Project, approximately 75 percent of adult Americans use
the Internet. Most of these Internet users (75 percent) search for health
information online.
Specifically, people experiencing addiction, and their loved
ones, can take steps toward recovery by visiting online message boards and
forums. Online resources offer guidance for those thinking about getting help,
those in recovery, and anyone trying to help a loved one into recovery. They
provide a community for people to share their experiences, challenges, and
questions about treatment and recovery. In addition to discussions between
people in recovery, some online forums also feature recovery counselors or other
providers who can offer help, support, and advice. A safe and non-threatening
environment, such as one on the Web, can motivate people and help them find
clarity in their situation.
Treatment services, too, have evolved with the online world.
People can now find services online, which is helpful if they live in rural
communities or in cities without access to public transportation, or if they
are otherwise unable to access standard treatment services. Online services
change how people receive help — instead of a once-a-week counseling session,
for example, people can access support every day, which can help prevent
relapses. People of all ethnic groups and age levels within the United States
take advantage of the more than 70 different online recovery programs and
services available.
Research suggests that treatment satisfaction is the same
whether treatment is provided via Internet-based counseling or through on-site
group counseling. In fact, some people prefer Internet-based services because
of convenience and increased confidentiality.
Some online resources include:
Together We Learn,
Together We Heal: What You Can Do
Celebrate Recovery Month this September by teaching people
with substance use disorders — as well as your broader community — about the
disease, how it affects them, and opportunities for supporting others through
treatment and recovery. Also, offer assistance to people you think may have a
problem and are not yet in treatment, or help them understand and cope with
addiction if it is in the family. Addiction is a health problem, so do your
part to let those who suffer from it know that help exists. By supporting
someone who is affected, you are making a positive change in the way substance
use disorders, treatment, and recovery are perceived in your community.
For more information and organizations that can help provide
treatment and other resources, visit the Recovery Month Web site at http://www.recoverymonth.gov.
Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available
can be found at http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment,
a portal that includes a searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment
facilities and additional treatment resources, or call SAMHSA's National
Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP for
toll-free information and treatment referrals in English and Spanish, 24 hours
a day.