September is National Recovery Month: A Time To Remember & Act

National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September. It’s a time when we take the opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives to addiction, those who are struggling with substance use disorders, and those who are coping with mental health issues. It’s also a time to applaud the efforts and dedication of the service providers, clinicians, recovery coaches, law enforcement, the judiciary, first responders and all those who lend a hand to someone in need. But most importantly, it’s a time to recognize and celebrate the successes of those individuals in long-term recovery.

I hope that by celebrating National Recovery Month in Lynnfield it draws attention to the issue of substance use disorders and mental health. And as a result, the public realizes that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental health issues and/or substance use disorder to live healthy and meaningful lives. The better the public understands the issues surrounding mental health and substance use disorder, the more likely they will embrace and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices and allocate the resources necessary to make real progress in addressing related challenges.

This year’s theme of National Recovery Month is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger.” As anyone in recovery knows, it takes support from many to face the challenge of getting sober.

Each September, thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and services around the country celebrate their successes and share them with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues in an effort to educate the public about recovery, how it works, and why it is important.

Purple is the color for recovery. It’s really Amethyst. In Ancient Greek, Amethyst meant “not intoxicated” and considered a strong antidote against drunkenness. Medieval Europeans believed Amethyst could both heal the body and promote level heaviness. This color and the Amethyst quartz have long been associated with recovery and addiction.

To recognize National Recovery Month this year in Lynnfield, we first began with recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st. The telephone poles and trees along the sidewalks of Main Street from the Middle School down to Town Common and over to Town Hall have been decorated with large purple ribbons. Those ribbons will remain in place throughout the month of September as a constant reminder.

On September 17th, the Think of Michael Foundation and A Healthy Lynnfield will conduct the fifth annual Night of Hope. Hundreds will gather at the middle school and march to Town Common. There we will listen to two individuals who will share their personal stories about recovery. This year we are pleased to have Todd Angilly, who sings the National Anthem at Boston Bruins games, performing his rendition of the song, You’ll Never Walk Alone. Angilly’s performance will be followed by the lighting of vigil candles.

These efforts are made in the hope of addressing the stigma associated with mental health issues and substance use disorders. The goal is to reinforce the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. There are millions of Americans whose lives have been transformed through recovery.

Each of us have experienced joy and sorrow, but with strength, support, and hope from the people we love, we are resilient.

The Lynnfield Public Library book suggestion for International Overdose Awareness Day: “Beneath a Meth Moon” by Jaqueline Wilson.