ARAK recognizes September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month and calles for more treatment services and better coordination of existing services. It urges the community to support efforts to make substance abuse treatment available to all those in need. Nationally, it is estimated that 76 percent of those in need of treatment for a problem with illicit drugs did not seek or receive treatment. Among those most in need of effective, coordinated services are men, women, and youth who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and may also have a co-occurring mental disorder or co-existing physical illness. Millions of people are in need of treatment for both substance abuse and mental disorders, but too often they are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or slip through the cracks entirely, such as those in our nation’s homeless population. Half of the people living in our streets have co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders.

Not only do people with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders need to be diagnosed, but both disorders must be treated because failure to do so almost assures an exacerbation of health problems. As the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Report to Congress on the Prevention and Treatment of Co-occurring Substance Abuse Disorders and Mental Disorders points out: “If one of the co-occurring disorders goes untreated, both usually get worse and additional complications often arise. The combination of disorders can result in poor response to traditional treatments, and increases the risk for other serious medical problems (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B and C, and cardiac and pulmonary diseases).”

“Drug and alcohol abuse and addiction have devastating health and societal consequences. Substance abuse is the root cause of a myriad of health problems—it causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, and untreated addiction takes an enormous economic toll—an estimated $294 billion annually,” said (name of spokesperson, title, and organization). “But it can be successfully treated. For this reason, the Recovery Month 2003 theme, ‘Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Health,’ is especially appropriate. Recovery Month is the right time to highlight the benefits of substance abuse treatment and encourage individuals with drug and alcohol problems to begin their journey of recovery,” said (name of spokesperson).

During September, communities nationwide join together to help people recognize that substance abuse or addiction to drugs and alcohol is a treatable disease, and that treatment is as effective as it is for other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, in the case of co-occurring mental disorders or co-existing physical illnesses, it is important that the substance abuse and mental and physical conditions be treated simultaneously in a coordinated manner. During Recovery Month, special efforts will be made by the (your organization) to reach out to the health care provider and payer community to encourage their support for effective, available treatment for all those in need.

Recovery Month also celebrates the successes of individuals who are in recovery and acknowledges men and women in the treatment field who dedicate their lives to helping those with addictions.