Recovery Month

Substance abuse and addiction are a national health crisis affecting millions of individuals. An estimated 15.9 million Americans, age 12 years and older, were current drug users in 2001. Yet, in the same year, over 75 percent of people in need of treatment for a problem with illicit drugs did not seek or receive that care.

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, now in its 14th year of observance, is celebrated each September. This year’s Recovery Month theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Health," focuses national attention on the problems that complicate treatment and recovery and the toll it takes on families, communities and the nation. The theme also underscores the need to treat the whole person, and spreads the message of hope in treatment and recovery.

To help those in need of treatment and to expand the treatment capacity in this country, we must seek to inspire all levels of Government, communities, businesses, and society as a whole to work together toward creating a seamless healthcare system that embraces treatment and supports and understands those in need of treatment services for substance abuse and addiction.

I CELEBRATE RECOVERY !

Dear Governor Pataki...

As a resident of New York State as well as a recovering person and/or family member, I would like to thank you for your Proclamation of September as National Addiction Recovery Month.

As you know, alcoholism and drug dependency are the number one public health problem in America. Together they cost Americans over $276 billion in health and welfare costs, law enforcement and criminal justice costs, and in costs to business and industry. Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans find themselves in hospitals, prisons, in mental institutions or in divorce court due to addiction. The toll upon our children is both devastating and long lasting.

As a person in recovery, I also support the following:

We have the right to access treatment equal to all other medical and mental illnesses, and to humane treatment
including treatment on demand and access to appropriate levels of care and lengths of stay.

We have the right to live, work and play in an environment free from stigma and prejudice,
and one which affords equal opportunities consistent with dignity and respect accorded to all.

We have the right and responsibility to have an active voice in our government, to express
our opinions within our political and social systems, and to be heard and taken seriously equal
with all citizens.

Finally, as a recovering person we have the right - and the responsibility - to assist others in
their struggles to overcome a disease which is destroying them - and we invite our New York
State government to assist us with this ethical and moral imperative.

Again, I thank you and look forward to working with New York State to improve the quality of life for all citizens - both those in recovery and those who are otherwise affected.

Sincerely,

Name (first, and Last or First Initial of Last Name: _________________________________________

City/Village, State: ____________________________________________________________________