It’s Time To Talk About National Recovery Month

This September is National Recovery Month, observing the importance of substance use treatment and mental health treatment. This year is the 31st year National Recovery Month celebrates prevention, treatment, and recovery from substance use disorders and mental illnesses.

We know that people can and do get well and can live fulfilling, rewarding, and purposeful lives in recovery. We have also learned there are many ways to live in recovery, and many resources available to those who wish to find their own path to wellness.

I asked Associate District Judge Christopher S. Kelly, who is the Washita & Custer County Treatment Court Judge, about why he thinks recovery is so important. He said, “Recovery is a process by which a person maintains their sobriety. Recovery takes dedication and focus. Treatment enables a person to gain the skills needed to become sober, but recovery allows a person to maintain and achieve the sobriety they need to become a better person, a better parent, a better spouse and a more productive citizen. Recovery programs such as Alcohols Anonymous (or Narcotics Anonymous) provide support and prosocial activities a recovering alcoholic (or addict) needs to maintain their sobriety. Those types of programs are often thought of first when analyzing recovery, but other prosocial activities such as religious groups, civic clubs and athletic activities provide a system of recovery also. Recovery is a process and a lifetime commitment.”

I celebrate this month in honor of friends and family, that have faced their mental health and substance use disorders and are now living in recovery. Living in recovery is not an easy journey, but often those that are living in recovery indicate life is better when they are abstinent and taking care of themselves. I also celebrate for those who are not yet ready to begin their journey to wellness—while there is not a formula to determine when those folks will be ready to enter into recovery, I want them to know that there is help out there when they are ready for it.

Feel free to explore the links below to learn more about getting help and National Recovery Month:

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has plenty of resources to treatment and other available resources on their homepage, https://www. ok.gov/odmhsas/

Nationally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offer links to resources and information on their webpage, https:// www.samhsa.gov/ .

You can learn more about National Recovery Month, see statistics, and more links to resources by navigating to this DEA page: https://www. getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/ get-involved/national-recovery-month

You can learn more about Western Oklahoma’s Washita-Custer County Treatment Court Program on Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ WashitaCusterCoTC