Marking National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

Jennifer Gerdes, Clinton, coordinator of the Breathe Easy Tobacco Coalitions of Clinton/Jackson County
Reader's Letter

September 20, 2006 11:33 am

— Imagine a nation in which a deadly but treatable disease is taking its toll on more than 5 percent of the population. One that is wreaking havoc with the lives of millions of men, women, and children, but only 20 percent of the people who need treatment are receiving it. Would we help?
These are the statistics that prevail in the U.S. today. The disease is alcohol and drug addiction.
Alcohol and drug abuse disrupts families, threatens the safety of our neighborhoods and ruins the lives of countless men, women and youths. During September, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, we recognize the damaging effects of substance abuse and renew our support for individuals battling to overcome addiction.
The theme for the 2006 Recovery Month campaign is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Build a Stronger, Healthier Community.” It is always our hope that the campaign will urge all Americans to help prevent alcohol and drug abuse and to promote treatment and recovery options.
Recovery Month is a national public education campaign developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The campaign urges adults to become involved in volunteering, mentoring and other efforts that help to prevent new use among young people and to also reduce the existing use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
New Directions encourages all Americans to support individuals striving to overcome addiction and the groups that are helping to fight alcohol and drug addiction. By working together, we can continue to build a more compassionate society that transforms lives and provides health, hope and healing to those that are hurting in our community.