Celebrating National Recovery Month in Ohio

Every September, the recovery community celebrates National Recovery Month by raising behavioral disorder and addiction awareness for not only those who have encountered addiction and recovery, but also for the substance abuse counselors, medical community and loved ones who played a part in the recovery journey along the way. September’s Recovery Month provides an opportunity to showcase the resiliency of those in recovery and strives to eliminate the stigma often associated with substance use, addiction and a sober lifestyle.

Substance Abuse in Ohio

Unintentional drug poisonings in the state of Ohio has been the leading cause of death since 2007 and the overdose death rate is among the highest in the country. As recorded in many other parts of the country, prescription opioid overdose deaths have been declining in recent years, while fatalities from illicit drugs laced with fentanyl have increased dramatically. While Ohio overdose deaths declined steadily for about a year following its peak in June 2017, preliminary CDC data reports a nearly 7% increase between 2018 and 2019.

The impact of substance abuse in Ohio reinforces the importance of a strong recovery network during drug addiction recovery, especially during a time when isolation during a global pandemic poses additional risk for those in facing addiction. Recovery Month celebrates this network.

Embracing National Recovery Month

The recovery community has been able to support recovery from substance abuse by offering recovery meetings and promoting recovery events. Ideas for Recovery Month activities online include:

• Hosting in-person and virtual fundraisers
• Hosting in-person and virtual events like 5Ks, artistic competitions that showcase recovery
• Sharing your recovery story with others online or in person
• Participating in social media campaigns that gather support for Recovery Month by promoting awareness of overcoming behavioral disorders and substance abuse

Each year, SAMHSA creates a Recovery Month Toolkit with social media assets, messaging, press release information and more for organizations and individuals seeking to show their support. Additionally,  The Recovery Village Columbus offers a free platform for organizing online recovery meetings and chat rooms whenever you feel the need to connect and recover together.

Recovery Resources in Ohio

The Recovery Village Columbus offers an Ohio recovery resource guide by county. Each county section includes contact information for local Ohio Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous Ohio, SMART Recovery locations in Ohio, and Al-Anon or Nar-Anon Ohio Meeting locations.

Recovery Support at The Recovery Village Columbus

The Recovery Village Columbus understands that recovery from addiction is difficult and often requires professional support. Our experienced, compassionate staff of addiction medicine professionals are ready to help you start your recovery journey, from medical detox to residential or outpatient substance abuse treatment to recovery support for life after treatment.

If you or someone you know could benefit from help with behavioral disorders or drug rehab in the Ohio area, contact us for more information regarding addiction treatment that meets your needs.