National Recovery Month
Mutual Ground would like to recognize National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month is observed every September and was established in 1989 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The purpose of National Recovery Month is to educate the public about mental health services and substance use treatments. This yearly awareness event strives to educate the public to help reduce stigma and also to celebrate those who identify as a person in recovery.
Stigma can be one of the primary barriers to overcoming substance use disorders, preventing people from seeking the treatment and support needed to overcome the disease. Stigma is negative attitudes, beliefs or behaviors about or towards a group of people because of their situation. It includes discrimination, prejudice, judgment and stereotypes, which can isolate people who use substances or have mental health disorders.
Many people still see addiction as a choice and not a disease, even many of those afflicted with the disease. This misconception makes it harder to seek out help when someone feels they did something to cause or somehow deserve the consequences of their “choices”. While mental health issues may be seen more as a disease than a choice, it still has many inaccurate stereotypes that affect a person’s desire or ability to seek help.
The way we help more people get the support and services they need for substance use and mental health disorders is by educating ourselves and others, by talking about it and spreading awareness through events such as Nation Recovery Month. Untreated substance use contributes to tens of thousands of deaths every year and impacts the lives of many more. With that being said there are over 23 million Americans in long-term recovery from substance use disorders. These individuals are living proof that recovery is real and that it benefits themselves, their families, and communities. Imagine what the recovery rates would be if we were able to eliminate the stigma associated with substance use and mental health disorders.
So, you might ask, how can I help? How can I help to support people in recovery and help end the stigma? One of the first things you can do is change your vocabulary. One term you can change is by not using the word “addict” to describe someone with an addiction, but use first person language and say “a person with a substance use disorder or addiction”. We do not refer to someone who has cancer as cancer, we would refer to them as a person who has cancer. We can also stop using the words “dirty” or “clean” to describe someone using substances or no longer using. Saying someone is “dirty” implies they are filthy or socially unacceptable and saying they are now clean implies they were and might still be filthy and unacceptable. We need to remember these are real people with symptoms of a disease and treat them respectfully and continue to educate ourselves and remember that words matter. This can help reduce stigma and give people a chance to live a life of recovery.
Written by
Stephanie Adamson LCPC, CADC, CDVP
Director of Substance Use Services at Mutual Ground
Mutual Ground provides supportive and empathetic outpatient substance use treatment at our Gale Street location, for more information on our Substance Use Service call 630.897.1003.
For more information on how to end stigma please visit these websites:
https://www.samhsa.gov/recovery-month
https://www.recoveryanswers.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/stigma/index.html