September marks National Recovery Month, which celebrates the more than 23 million Americans who are in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders.
Here are five statements from public health policy leaders recognizing the impact of the month, collected by the Health and Human Services Department:
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. Administrator of CMS: We recognize National Recovery Month by stressing that we all have an opportunity and an obligation, to help people access the health care they need. CMS efforts towards expanding access to behavioral health services will enhance access to equitable and high-quality behavioral health services and improve outcomes for everyone covered by our programs.
Nora Volkow, MD. Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health: Recovery is achievable, but it takes time and must be catered to the unique aspects of an individual's life. We enter National Recovery Month with continued dedication to research on social determinants of health and disparities that can greatly impact a person's experience with addiction, with the goal to better personalize recovery support and to help people maintain and sustain recovery regardless of their circumstances.
Robert Califf, MD. Commissioner of the FDA: National Recovery Month represents an important time to celebrate those in recovery and acknowledge the dedication and impact of the entire support community making recovery achievable. As part of the FDA's Overdose Prevention Framework, we have taken several critical actions, among which include expanding access to naloxone and limiting unnecessary initial prescription drug exposure, to prevent drug overdoses and reduce deaths. The FDA will continue to do our part as a regulatory public health agency to prevent misuse and addiction, reduce fatal overdoses, and provide evidence-based treatment and recovery support.
Carole Johnson. Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration: National Recovery Month is a time to lift up the work communities across the country are doing to make recovery possible. The Health Resources and Services Administration supports community-based organizations across rural America, health centers in thousands of historically underserved communities that provide care regardless of individuals ability to pay, and Ryan White/HIV care providers in cities and states across the country. Together, these grantees are on the frontlines in helping communities provide access to substance use disorder care and in helping people find their path to recovery. At the same time, at HRSA, we are investing in the recruitment and training of the next generation of the behavioral health workforce and in training the primary care workforce to respond to and treat opioid and other substance use disorders. We are committed to pulling all the levers we can to offer not just hope, but the affordable treatment needed to make recovery possible.
Vivek Murthy, MD. U.S. Surgeon General: Addiction affects every community in America. Since 1989, September has served as an opportunity for us to reaffirm our support for the recovery community, reflect on new evidence-based treatments, and thank the providers and loved ones who help make recovery possible. If you are in recovery, please know that you are not alone and that you have much to be proud of. During National Recovery Month, let us remember to check in with our support system and reach out to those we love.