Best Ways To Celebrate National Recovery Month

What does September make you think of? Maybe it’s the colorful panorama of red, gold, and orange leaves of trees lining the river bank or alleys in a city park. Maybe it’s the smell of sharpened pencils and new notebooks for the first day of school. Maybe it’s the crisp feeling in the air shedding the damp heat of August. Whatever your particular September memories are, it’s a time of change, renewal, and excitement. 

But did you know that September is also National Recovery Month? That’s right! Each year, thousands of people on the journey of recovering from alcohol misuse and mental health struggles come together to share their stories and bring this important subject into the public eye. What are your plans this year? Need some ideas? Read on!

What Is National Recovery Month?

National Recovery Month is all about showing people that recovery is possible! It was established in 1989 and recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 1990 — a milestone that ensured its prominence and visibility. SAMHSA describes National Recovery Month as a way “to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.”

While at first National Recovery Month centered around alcohol, in 1996 it expanded its focus to other addictions, officially becoming the first “National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.” By 2011, it included mental health issues beyond substance abuse. For example, according to the SAMHSA calendar, the week of September 8, 2024 has been designated as suicide prevention week.

The Goals of Recovery Month

There are several main goals that Recovery Month focuses on:

• Raising awareness of substance misuse. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, half of all U.S. residents aged 12 and older have tried an illicit drug; 700,000 have died from drug overdoses since 2000; and 140,557 die as a result of alcohol misuse every year. These numbers are staggering, but it’s easy to miss just how pressing the issue is until it touches us personally. 
• Raising awareness of other mental health issues. Since its expansion, National Recovery Month isn’t just about alcohol — it’s a national “recovery awareness month” that aims to shine the spotlight on mental health issues in general. According to the CDC, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., with 48,183 lives lost in 2021 and a heartbreaking 1.7 million attempts the same year. A lot of these cases are linked to substance misuse as well, in addition to depression and other struggles.
• Showing that recovery is possible. That said, recovery is absolutely possible! One of the most inspiring parts of National Recovery Month is the opportunity it provides for thousands of people to talk openly about their experiences. Sharing these experiences serves as living proof that it’s completely possible to emerge on the other side and find life even more joyful and meaningful after recovery than before.
• Highlighting scientific research in the area of addiction and recovery. Recovery Month provides an opportunity to showcase the latest research and developments in the area of addiction, with a special focus on neuroscience and potential therapies and treatments. 
• Reducing stigma related to addiction. Addiction can carry a lot of stigma, and by talking openly about our struggles, National Recovery Month aims to spread understanding and compassion. Addiction can happen to anyone, and it’s not the addict’s fault or choice. In the end, we’re all better off with a bit more empathy!
• Enhancing community support around recovery. National Recovery Month inspires lots of local communities around the country — as well as online — to team up and organize various events to spread the word about addiction, share stories, and inspire hope. Doing so can help people find their “tribe,” which can be a lifeline for those who are struggling.

National Recovery Month in Our Times

Nowadays, Recovery Month is still going strong. In fact, just last year President Biden issued the 2023 White House Proclamation about Recovery Month, acknowledging the “20 million Americans who have had the courage to seek help for substance use disorder, showing millions of others that recovery is possible.” 

This proclamation reminds people that addiction is still a pressing issue: “Substance use disorder affects families in every corner of our country.  Drug overdoses last year took more than 100,000 American lives.  Addressing this crisis is a core pillar of my Unity Agenda — one of the big issues we can tackle together as a Nation.”

Similar Projects and Initiatives

There are similar projects and celebrations around the world that aim to show recovery is possible. Here are a few:

• Dry January. According to an article in the British Journal of Medical Practice, Dry January is “now a household term.” Its aim is “to start a new conversation about alcohol, to encourage people to consider and discuss their alcohol consumption and ultimately, to inspire behavior change following a positive and fun-filled month of sobriety.” These days, millions of people around the world participate by taking a month off from booze, and many report significant physical health benefits, such as better sleep, weight loss, decreased heart rate, and improved digestion. And many find that it gives them the momentum to carry on well into February and beyond!
• Canada’s Recovery Day. Celebrated on September 30 since 2012, Canada’s Recovery Day was started by AnnMarie McCullough and Lorinda Strang from the Orchard Recovery Center on Bowen Island in an effort to create a Canadian equivalent of Recovery Month. It was declared official and adopted in other major Canadian cities. In Vancouver, the day featured musical performances, speeches by local politicians, and speakers sharing their recovery stories. The celebration closed with a march that ended with 400 people joining hands to receive the Serenity Prayer. Talk about powerful!
• Sober October. Similar to Dry January, Sober October is a challenge that invites people to reap the benefits of a month without booze while also benefiting cancer charities. It began in 2010 in Australia, where the challenge was originally called Ocsober, and was dubbed “Sober October” by the Macmillan Cancer Support in the U.K. In the U.S., the challenge took off when the famous podcaster Joe Rogan (love him or loathe him, the guy has serious clout) announced to his millions of listeners that he was participating . Since then, celebrities such as Rosanne Barr, Nikki Glaser, and surfer Kelly Slater have also joined in.
• The U.K.'s Recovery Month. Like its U.S. counterpart, U.K. Recovery Month is celebrated in September. Organizations such as Faces and Voices of Recovery U.K. (FAVOR UK) lead the way when it comes to spreading awareness and “representing the voices of communities affected by addiction.”

• Australia's Drug Action Week. Sponsored by the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA), Drug Action Week has the overall purpose of “looking after your mind” and aims to inform the public about the dangers of alcohol misuse (which accounts for 3.2% of the “total burden of disease and injury in Australia.” Groups such as the National Rural Health Alliance play an important role in the project by helping to spread the word in communities where alcohol is readily available, but extensive information about the risks might be a bit harder to find.

Tips for Sober Celebrations

Ready for some fun ideas to celebrate Recovery Awareness Month this year?

• Check out the events hosted by the Recovery Centers of America. Their Facebook page is full of local and virtual events to celebrate with others on a similar journey. For example, a couple of years ago, they hosted an event called “Finding Laughter in Recovery” featuring author Tiffany Jenkins, who spoke about her memoir, High Achiever: The Incredible True Story of One Addict’s Double Life.
• Also keep an eye on the Faces and Voices of Recovery website. They have loads of tools, resources, and a calendar of events around the country that celebrate recovery throughout the year, with many taking place during National Recovery Month. For example, last year’s events included a kickoff barbecue (in Elkton, MD), free “Yoga of Recovery ‘On The Mat’” Practices on Zoom, and an “Annual Conference Celebrating the 8 Dimensions of Wellness” (in Helena, MT). There are sure to be more events to come in September 2024!
• Become a “Partner” to share your story. Recovery is possible! One of the most powerful ways to join in the celebration is to share your story with others. The CDC “Partner Toolkit” dedicated to National Recovery Month has tons of ideas for ways you can participate this year. For example, you can share your story on social media by using the hashtags #RecoveryMonth, #RecoveryIsForEveryone, and #RecoveryIsPossible, and tag your CDC “Partners” on X (Twitter) @CDCInjury.
• Reaching out to those who are struggling. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out! Point them to some helpful resources online or in your local community. Also, tell them about Reframe!

Advice for Those Who Are Struggling 

And if you find yourself struggling with alcohol or are reconsidering your relationship with it, here are some tips to find your way to a happier, healthier version of yourself:

• Practice awareness without judgment. If you’re starting to question your relationship with alcohol, congratulations! You’ve made the first and most important step. It’s a good idea to keep track of your drinking habits for some time in order to see what patterns emerge. Don’t judge: just simply observe. Note how you feel before and after drinking. How long do the feelings last? How do you feel about the situation the next day? Do you find yourself wishing you drank less? After a while, some insights might start to come up as you see that perhaps alcohol isn’t actually carrying out its “promises” of being a source of fulfillment and joy. 
• Find a community. Everything is better with a solid team around you, and recovery is no exception. Make it a habit to get together with others on the same journey, or check out some virtual meetings and communities.
• Engage in sober activities. There are plenty of dopamine-boosting alternatives to alcohol out there. Creative pursuits (anything from painting to pottery, gardening, cooking, or creating your own music video) are great ways to get into a “flow state” that promotes natural dopamine release. Spending time with friends and engaging in sober heart-to-heart conversations, exercising, and playing games are all great options as well.
• Stir up some fun mocktails. Celebrate with your recovery community by looking up some fun mocktails to get your mind off booze and find some new favorites.
• Plan a nature outing. There’s something about being in nature that grounds and centers us. And did you know that it’s actually a form of therapy, known as ecotherapy? That’s right — spending time in natural surroundings has been scientifically proven to benefit mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and addiction.

Summing Up

As we get ready to celebrate National Recovery Month this September, let’s try to think of it as an exciting time of change. Approaching it with a sense of possibility and hope makes the message that much more impactful, building momentum to carry us through the rest of the year and beyond!