In 1989, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) launched National Recovery Month to increase awareness surrounding mental health and substance abuse. At the same time, they wanted to celebrate the success stories to illustrate that living in recovery is possible. Each year, the SAMSHA selects a theme, highlighting an area of focus and creating a toolkit for organizations to use.
NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH
The month provides a platform for services and professionals to educate the public about substance abuse treatments and mental health services. While substance abuse and mental health services are nothing new, the stigma attached to them remains. September provides not only an opportunity to help eliminate the stigma but to demonstrate the human face behind the disease. The month serves as a celebration of the steps taken to improve access, information, and treatment.
GET INVOLVED
Through seminars, documentaries, public service announcements, and awareness walks, communities will bring hope. These messages will include access to referrals, phone numbers, and tools. Every year, new resources, data, and treatments become available. Improving awareness and access, along with preventative education improve outcomes.
Along with education, the month celebrates those who succeed in recovery. Each success story seeks to improve understanding and provide answers to those who still have questions. Families, first responders, clergy, employers, and communities as a whole play a part in recovery and awareness. Success stories include barriers and obstacles. And the success stories aren’t just for those living the struggle; they’re for those who help tear down the barriers.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalRecoveryMonth
Look for events near you. (Don’t worry, we’ve curated as many as we could find, just keep reading…) Participate in a seminar, awareness walk, or attend a documentary to learn about addiction. Celebrate your journey of recovery to help others succeed with you. Follow the history of National Recovery Month at the SAMHSA website.
Use #NationalRecoveryMonth to share on social media.
A Curated List of Virtual and In-Person Events Across the United States
Faces and Voices of Recovery – September 2021 Calendar Listing
09/01 Recovery Happens Rally – West Steps of the California State Capital
09/01 SOBER POP – Sober Artists: Special Guests Include Deanna Fraser (@deannaf), Amanda the Sober Illustrator (@thesoberillustrator), Jenni Meckelvaney (@jmecks_art), and Manny Minnie (@manny_minnie), LINK TO THIS ROOM on Clubhouse App 6 pm Pacific / 9 pm Eastern
09/03 FERM FATALE Presents Trance and Tonics, Venice Beach, California
9/8 Pathways to Recovery Panel at RISE Center, Reading, Pennsylvania
09/08 SOBER POP – Sober Fall Fashion: Special Guests Include Serenitees Collection (@sereniteescollection), Sober is Dope (@soberisdope), Recovery Life Apparel (@recoverylifeapparel), Pro Recovery Power (@pro_recovery_power), Valor Fitness Clothing (@valorfitnessclothing), A Sober Girls Guide (@asobergirlsguide) and more to come! LINK TO THIS ROOM on Clubhouse App 6 pm Pacific / 9 pm Eastern.
09/11 Events:
- Storytime with Courage at RISE Center, Reading, Pennsylvania
- Celebration of Hope Walk – Seaside Heights, New Jersey
- Sundown – A Sober “Detox” Music Festival featuring Autograf and Yolanda Be Cool – Colorado
- Recovery Fest – Richmond, Virginia
- Celebrating Roads to Recovery – Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
09/14 Pathways to Recovery Panel at Atonement Lutheran Chuch, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
09/14 Rally (Caps) for Recovery – Recovery Month Twins Game
09/15 Standing in the Gap – Join this virtual morning event to learn about the healing work of Recovery Café, what they’re doing to serve their Members during the Covid-19 pandemic, and how you can help.
09/15 SOBER POP – Non-Alcoholic Brands: Special Guests include Adrienne with The Dry Goods Co (@drygoodsdrinks), Milan with Free Spirits (@drinkfreespirits) Julia with Sovi (@drinksovi), and Shelley with For Bitter For Worse (@forbitterforworse) LINK TO THIS ROOM on Clubhouse App 6 pm Pacific / 9 pm Eastern
09/17 & 18 – Recover-Con 2021, Dixon, Illinois
09/18 Events:
- Walk for Recovery – Minnesota State Capital Grounds
- Rock to Recovery, Los Angeles, California
- Recovery Fest NYC – Postponed to Spring 2022 – Click here for full details
- Berks County Recovery Walk, Reading Area Community College, Reading, Pennsylvania
09/22 SOBER POP – Sober Comedy Night: Line-Up and details to come! LINK TO THIS ROOM on the Clubhouse App 6 pm Pacific / 9 pm Eastern
09/23 – Night of Recovery Comedy Intervention IX is an evening to celebrate recovery through laughter and the community, with proceeds benefitting the Foundation. Tampa, Florida
09/24 – Macklemore Concert Washington State Fair, Puyallup, Washington
09/24 – 09/27 Mobilize Recovery – Limited in-person and virtual. Mobilize Recovery is an initiative of the Recovery Advocacy Project and The Voices Project. Its mission is to expand the policy to support recovery, create connections to supportive services that are vital and life-saving, and engage affected individuals in meaningful civic action. The initiative convenes advocates with lived experience to build capacity for organized civic engagement with new leadership across the country.
09/25 Events:
- Walk for Recovery, Portland, Oregon
- 8th Annual Run for Recovery brought to you by Bridgeway Recovery Services, Salem, Oregon
- Soberstock at Easy Does It, Leesport, Pennsylvania
09/30 Recover Out Loud – A Concert Event LIVE from Last Vegas 8:30 p ET / 5:30 p PT, Featuring Macklemore, brought to you by iHeart Radio, Variety, and Mobilize Recovery
09/30 International Recovery Day Join the International Recovery Day community worldwide by registering on this site today. We will then send you a token by email that will allow you to launch your own virtual firework on September 30th, 2021.
Sober Voices FLOW 09/30 – 10/02 – A 3-Day virtual conference and celebration for the sober and sober-curious
Undoing Drugs: Conversations About Harm Reduction 09/30: The events will be held on Sept. 30 at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. The first event will feature Maia Szalavitz, the author of Undoing Drugs: The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction. She will be talking about harm reduction and how it may help the opioid crisis, mitigate future drug problems and quell other pandemics. To register for this event, click here.
The second event will be a panel discussion with harm reduction champions, on providing support, understanding, and resources to adults pursuing recovery. To register for this event, click here. Both of these events will be available for viewing on Zoom and Facebook Live.
Did we miss any events? It’s not too late to add your event. Feel free to slide into our DMs on social media or email us at thesobercurato@gmail.com
SOBER POP Culture Club on Clubhouse App: September Topics – Let’s Get This Audio-Only Party Started!
Sometimes life gets really hard. Resources are available
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
