National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans about addiction treatment and mental health services and how they can help people with mental health issues or substance use disorder (SUD) live healthy and rewarding lives.
Hosted by the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), Recovery Month celebrates the courageous efforts made by those in recovery from addiction, just as we celebrate health improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease. Recovery Month fights the stigma of addiction and reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.
There are millions of Americans whose lives have been transformed through recovery. Since these successes often go unnoticed by the broader population, Recovery Month provides a vehicle for everyone to celebrate these accomplishments.
Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities all over the United States celebrate Recovery Month. They speak about strides made by those in recovery and share their success stories with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In doing so, everyone helps to increase awareness and foster a greater understanding of mental health conditions and SUD.
Co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders are common as substance misuse frequently represents a maladaptive coping mechanism to deal with the emotional pain of a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or trauma.
EVERY PERSON, EVERY FAMILY
Starting this year, Recovery Month adopted the motto “Every Person. Every Family. Every Community.” as its permanent theme. This year’s observance will work to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.
Addiction is a family disease. At The Blanchard Institute, we recognize that substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health issues profoundly impact not only the individual but also their entire family. “Family members are trauma survivors,” explains founder and CEO Ward Blanchard. They are encouraged to participate in our family workshops, help develop treatment plans for their loved ones, and become an essential part of their recovery.
The Blanchard Institute has been at the forefront of raising awareness of recovery-related issues in North Carolina. Earlier last month, Blanchard was part of the 3rd annual Strike Out Stigma night in Charlotte to support mental health awareness. In July, Blanchard hosted its annual Recovery Awareness Day.
HOMECOMING PICNIC
On Saturday, September 14, you’re invited to join our annual change agent homecoming picnic! It offers alumni, families, and friends an opportunity to (re)connect, celebrate recovery, and enjoy an evening of food, fun, and fellowship.
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: The Blanchard Institute – Charlotte
10348 Park Road, Charlotte, NC
WHAT TO EXPECT
- Delicious food: Enjoy a catered picnic featuring a variety of food and drink options.
- Games and activities: Get involved in fun outdoor games and activities for all ages.
- Community connection: Reconnect with fellow alumni, meet new friends, and celebrate the recovery journey together.
Whether you’re a recent graduate or have been part of our alumni network for years, this event is for you! We look forward to seeing you and celebrating the incredible progress and success stories of our change agent community.
Ward Blanchard wanted The Blanchard Institute to be much more than just another addiction clinic. “Right from the start, we wanted it to be a community resource, a teaching site, and general wellness center as well,” he says. “We’re heavily family-oriented. Blanchard offers more than just a treatment experience—it’s a relationship. Patients are with us for several months and families are required to participate as much as the identified patient. With us, family involvement is more like family restructuring or realignment.”
The Blanchard Institute also recently expanded treatment options at its Lake Norman facility. The brand new evening intensive outpatient program (IOP) is building on the success of other Blanchard programs. “Our modalities are highly successful because we use evidence-based treatment,” says Jennifer Harris, CADC, who manages the new program.
Blanchard cultivates a safe, comfortable environment for clients and their families across North Carolina. Our recovery management and alumni program support a life-long recovery. Your journey to recovery doesn’t end with day or outpatient treatment, once you’re with Blanchard, we’re always there for you.
Our admissions process is discrete, confidential, and non-invasive. For more information about our services and IOP schedules, call us at (704) 288-1097 —our experienced specialists will guide you through the process and treat you with the dignity and compassion you deserve.