September is Recovery Month
Hope is Real. Recovery is Real.
On August 31, 2023 - International Overdose Awareness Day - communities across Maine hosted candlelight vigils and events in honor of the 723 Mainers who lost their lives to overdose in 2022. The annual day of remembrance falls on the eve of National Recovery Month.
National Recovery Month is a nationwide event held every September to educate Americans about the transformative power of substance use treatment and mental health services. These services can be life-changing, enabling individuals facing mental and/or substance use disorders to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
Recovery is for everyone, regardless of background or circumstance. Many Americans have transformed their lives through the process of recovery, but their stories often go unnoticed. Recovery Month isn't just about raising awareness—it's also about celebrating the incredible progress made by those on their journey to recovery. Just as we celebrate individuals managing conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease, we equally celebrate those taking steps toward recovery.
The 2023 Recovery Month observance focuses on promoting evidence-based treatment and recovery practices. It aims to nurture a strong and proud recovery community, acknowledging the dedication of service providers and community members nationwide who make recovery in all its forms possible. This month, we’re sharing the following key messages from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
The recovery journey isn’t just for the person with the substance use or mental health issue—it includes everyone who cares about them.
Because recovery is holistic, families and caregivers can play an important role in supporting their loved one’s journey of recovery.
Staying connected with supportive loved ones and trusted friends can help young people balance school and recovery.
Families and caregivers face unique challenges when helping a loved one who is in recovery and working to overcome mental health or substance use challenges.
When recovery care and support reflect someone’s unique cultural values, they are more likely to succeed.
No matter where you are, no matter who you are, no one is alone in recovery.
Each person’s recovery journey is unique, and it should be based on their individual life goals and values.
With the right supports, tools, and resources, everyone can recover and lead a meaningful life.
Wellness in recovery encompasses a person’s whole life, not just their substance use or mental health issue.
When people are equipped with evidence-based treatment and recovery supports, they can regain their lives and contribute to their families and communities.
Access to housing, education, social support, and employment affect the ability to enter and maintain recovery.
Recovery is personal and requires tailored, individualized care and supports.
By sharing their stories and lived experience, peers engage others in recovery with a vital sense of belonging, support, and hope.
Being able to connect with someone who has lived experience in recovery makes it possible to see what is possible for yourself.
Peers know how to access services and supports that are essential to recovery.
Peer support can help the families and caregivers of someone in recovery navigate their own unique challenges and recovery journeys.
Recovery Month Events Close to Home
Recovery Month Barbecue
Friday, September 22, 2023 | 4:40 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Healthy Acadia’s INSPIRE Recovery Center
24 Church Street, Ellsworth
Join the team at Healthy Acadia’s INSPIRE Recovery Center to celebrate Recovery Awareness Month. This event is free and open to the community. All are invited to attend.
Recovery-Palooza
Saturday, September 23, 2023 | 11a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bangor Waterfront
Recovery-Palooza is the largest recovery celebration in Maine, and a collaborative effort of Bangor Public Health, Bangor Area Recovery Network (BARN), Health Equity Alliance (HEAL), Maine Recovery Advocacy Project (ME-RAP), Northern Light Health, Together Place, and Wellspring. Join them in celebrating recovery by spreading a message of hope. There will be free food, music, inspirational speakers, and live music from The Real Young Swagg, Myles Bullen, The Honeybees, and Bad Corner, and opportunities to hear the powerful and inspirational stories of community members in recovery.
The Bangor Area Recovery Network believes that Recovery is a community responsibility. All are welcome to attend this free community event.
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Lives Remembered
On August 31, dozens of community members attended Overdose Awareness Day events organized by Healthy Acadia’s Community Recovery Coach and Maine Recovery Core teams in Ellsworth, Machias, and Bangor. Maine Recovery Core Recovery Coaches share some event highlights, below.
Bangor
The Bangor Area Recovery Network, in collaboration with HEAL, Together Place, and several other organizations dedicated to assisting individuals grappling with addiction and mental health challenges, convened at Norumbega Park to pay tribute to those lost to overdose. Several brave individuals stepped forward, sharing their personal battles with addiction or recounting the tragic loss of loved ones to overdoses. It was an immensely impactful evening as we all gathered in the park and, before the speaking segment of the event, we marched up Main Street carrying signs that participants had created. These signs depicted stories of survival from overdose and served as poignant memorials to those we've lost, allowing us to momentarily represent those no longer with us. Despite Penobscot County constituting just 11% of Maine's population, alarming overdose statistics revealed that the county accounted for 14% of the state's overdoses and 15% of its fatalities between January and July. During the event, we discussed the abundance of resources available in our county, particularly in the Bangor-Brewer area, for individuals seeking help with substance use. However, the lack of affordable housing emerged as a significant obstacle to recovery, often forcing people onto the streets with nowhere to turn.
Ellsworth
INSPIRE Recovery Center held an event at Knowlton Park for Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 2023, to remember the 723 lives lost in Maine during 2022. INSPIRE had the honor of having three powerful guest speakers, as well as allowing those in the community to share their stories, and speak their condolences to those who lost their lives in the past years. We had a candlelight vigil and offered harm-reduction supplies. Maine Family Planning also had a table present with supplies and information for safe medical needs, and harm reduction supplies.
Machias
Students, faculty, and community members came together on the University of Maine Machias campus to honor and remember those lost to overdose and share stories of recovery and of loss. Purple butterflies, some with names of those who lost their lives to overdose, were displayed on the center green and gazebo and a candlelight vigil was held.
Recovery Supports and Harm Reduction Tools
Recovery is possible for those facing substance use disorder. Healthy Acadia connects individuals with local resources, including recovery coaches, addiction treatment centers, support groups, and harm reduction resources. Seeking help is a courageous step towards recovery, and we're here to support you along your journey.
Recovery Coaching
Recovery coaching is an invaluable resource for individuals on the path to recovery. These dedicated professionals offer guidance, support, and encouragement, helping individuals navigate the challenges of recovery with success.
Throughout September, let's unite in raising awareness about pain management, mental health, and the possibilities of recovery. Together, we can build a healthier, more supportive community for all, empowering individuals to take charge of their well-being and embrace the hope that recovery brings.
Are you interested in becoming a recovery coach in your community? Click here to learn more.
Understanding Harm Reduction: Saving Lives and Promoting Dignity
Harm reduction is a compassionate approach that underscores the importance of treating individuals who are actively using substances with respect and dignity. It consists of a range of strategies and tools geared towards minimizing the adverse consequences of substance use disorders. At its core, harm reduction is about saving lives.
Overdose Reversal Nasal Spray (Naloxone or Narcan)
Naloxone is a life-saving medication capable of reversing overdoses caused by opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications. This medication swiftly counteracts an overdose by temporarily blocking the effects of opioids, restoring normal breathing within minutes for individuals whose breath may have slowed or stopped due to an opioid overdose.
Naloxone is administered as a nasal spray, making it safe and easy to use. Contact us to request a no-cost training session and receive a two-dose supply of naloxone.
Deterra Medication Deactivation System Pouches
The Deterra medication deactivation system offers a practical solution for the disposal of both over-the-counter and prescription medications. This drug deactivation pouch neutralizes medications, providing a safe and convenient alternative to other disposal methods. The Deterra pouch is user-friendly, and once medications are placed inside, it can be discarded with regular household trash.
Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is increasingly being found in unregulated prescription drugs and over-the-counter pain management medications, particularly those obtained from unverified sources or the street market.
Many individuals are unaware of the composition of the drugs they consume or whether they contain traces of fentanyl. This lack of knowledge can have fatal consequences, as fentanyl is responsible for an increasing number of drug overdoses.
Fentanyl test strips are small pieces of paper capable of detecting the presence of fentanyl in any drug batch, whether in pill, powder, or injectable form.
Healthy Acadia offers these resources free of charge to community members, To request one or more of these harm-reduction resources, click here.