SAMHSA’s Road to Recovery Update

The Road to Recovery Update keeps you informed about activities leading up to National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) in September as well as throughout the year. We encourage you to forward this information to friends and colleagues, include it in newsletters or listservs, or link to it from your Web site by going to Road to Recovery Updates.

Help us to continue to grow in our efforts to improve the lives of individuals and their families affected by alcohol and drug use disorders!

SAMHSA Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month!

On September 10, SAMHSA held a press conference to unveil the results of the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The release of the survey results was the keynote of the kick-off to the 20th anniversary observance of Recovery Month. View the video highlighting 20 years of Recovery Month and read the timeline of Recovery Month’s history, with recovery and treatment-related milestones spanning 20 years.

Submit Your Questions by September 18 for the September Road to Recovery Ask the Expert: Robert White, LCPC, CEAP

Robert White is the director of behavioral health for the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Department of Psychiatry, where he manages employee assistance programs (EAPs) and behavioral health contracts for the hospital, the campus, and the Baltimore Orioles. He holds a clinical faculty appointment with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, is certified in addiction treatment, and continues to teach and publish on subjects related to impaired professionals, intervention, EAPs, and telemental health. He received the Isadore Tuerk Award in 2004 for "Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Substance Abuse Treatment." He has a private practice, which includes a weekly group for professionals in recovery, and he has been in recovery for 29 years. He was the founding president of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence–Maryland in 1988. He has chaired the Annual Tuerk Conference on Addiction Treatment for 20 years. Submit your questions to Mr. White by using the "Contact Us" form on our Web site. Answers from Mr. White will be posted on Recovery Month in early September. Contact information for questions will be kept confidential.

Answers to the August Ask the Expert Questions Posted

View the Questions and Answers from the August Road to Recovery Webcast, The Social Services System: Supporting Treatment and Recovery for Individuals and Families. Nacshon Zohari, LCSW, Program Administrator for Substance Abuse Treatment, Denver Department of Health, answers questions asked by the public.

Become a Part of History! Post Your Recovery Month Events Today

Become a part of the national Recovery Month celebration and post your events today. Connect with thousands of recovery event participants when you post your event to Recovery Month, and watch your event participation grow!

Submit Your Event Photos and Videos by October 9 for Possible Inclusion in a Recovery Month Video

Submit your 2009 event photos and videos for the historic 20th anniversary of Recovery Month, and they may be included in a Recovery Month video.

Log into the Community Events page to submit your photos, and email recoverymonth@samhsa.hhs.gov for information on how to submit your videos.

Install the Recovery Month Community Events Widget on Your Web Site Today and Showcase Your Event

The Recovery Month widget is a unique way of showcasing Recovery Month community events such as yours. The more places people can find community events online, the more people will know about events occurring in their area. If you already have an event posted on Recovery Month, go to your event listing and get the widget code on that page; it is already customized to display your event. Add the widget to your Web site today.

There Is Still Time To Submit Your Local and State Proclamations

Encourage your state and local officials to issue proclamations recognizing September as Recovery Month. View a sample proclamation and get tips on how to initiate a proclamation. Submit your proclamations via email by sending them to recoverymonth@samhsa.hhs.gov.

Join Over 1,100 Facebook Fans of Recovery Month!

Recovery Month’s Facebook fan base is growing rapidly! Become a fan and tell other Facebook members about your recovery activities. Learn about their events and efforts to promote recovery and treatment in their communities. You will also receive Recovery Month tips and updates. Read the Social Media Comment Policy.

Order Your Recovery Month Publications

All Recovery Month 2009 materials are available for order by calling 1-800-729-6686 or by going to Publications and Ordering. Download and order yours today!

Expand Your Outreach: Submit Your Press Releases, News, Studies, Reports, and Other Information

Recovery Month is interested in posting your news, press releases, studies, reports, calls for releases, and other information on our Web site. If you have materials related to substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery, please send them to recoverymonth@samhsa.hhs.gov.

About Recovery Month

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, celebrating 20 years of observance in 2009, is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. For more information about Recovery Month, visit http://www.recoverymonth.gov.