Support those fighting addiction

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn and King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove led their colleagues today in recognizing September as National Recovery Month. This observance honors those recovering from addiction and sheds light on the importance of treatment and prevention.

“Acknowledging National Recovery Month is a reminder of the serious problem of addiction in our nation and here at home in King County,” said Dunn. “It is important that those who seek recovery know there are people who are ready and willing to help them succeed.”

“Addiction is touching a growing number of families and communities across King County,” said Upthegrove. “It is important to connect those struggling with addiction to services that can help them lead healthy lives.”

King County Council recognizes September as National Recovery MonthNational Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans about the substance abuse treatment and mental health services that can help those struggling with addiction live a healthy and rewarding life.

Recovery Month began in 1989 as Treatment Works! Month, which honored the work of substance use treatment professionals in the field. It then expanded into National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in 1998, when it started celebrating the accomplishment of individuals in recovery.

PROCLAMATION 

            WHEREAS, since 1989, government entities, nonprofit organizations, and others around the United States have recognized the month of September as National Recovery Month; and 

            WHEREAS, according to the most recent available data, 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States; and 

            WHEREAS, today, approximately one in six Americans suffers from addiction, and with the current opioid abuse epidemic, that number is rising; and 

            WHEREAS, observing National Recovery Month provides us as a county the opportunity to reflect on the issue of addiction as a disease; and 

            WHEREAS, as with other chronic illnesses, giving sufferers the proper treatment and care is critically important to overall health; and 

            WHEREAS, last year, King County’s Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Levy served just over two percent of the estimated King County population or roughly 42,400 residents; and 

            WHEREAS, for those who have been able to take back their lives and experience long-term recovery, this observance honors their hard work as well as the service providers who make recovery possible;  

            NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, proclaim September 2017 as

NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH

in King County and recognize that supporting both those who suffer from addiction and those who provide addiction recovery services is important to the overall health of our region. 

[Source: King County Council Communications]

Dana Neuts

I am a full-time freelance writer, editor, marketing pro and the publisher of iLoveKent.net.

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