By Steve Miller, CPS

Thirty Years of Hope, Healing, and Advocacy

National Recovery Month (NRM), celebrated each September, began over 30 years ago as an initiative of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Originally launched in 1989 as “Treatment Works! Month,” it has evolved into a broader movement spotlighting not only treatment and recovery from substance use, but also mental health challenges.

Today, NRM celebrates the stories of those in recovery, uplifts the voices of their families and allies, and promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and support services.

Recovery by the Numbers: A National Story of Strength and Hope

Recovery is not just a personal journey - it’s a community success story. Data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)¹ indicates that 21.3 million adults aged 18 or older considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered from a substance use problem. The Recovery Research Institute², found that 9.1% of U.S. adults, or 22.35 million people, had resolved a substance use problem.

Millions of Americans live in recovery, and every one of them reminds us that healing is possible and worth celebrating. National Recovery Month is an effort to break the stigma of addictions by shifting the narrative from shame to strength, from silence to celebration.

Read the full article to learn more about recovery and supporting Recovery Month

To inspire action, each of us can share how prevention is improving lives in our community.

📢 Stay tuned for the 2025 update to SAMHSA’s toolkit.

🗨 Share your #MyPreventionStory on social media.

Prevention Month lifts up the national conversation — to showcase prevention’s positive effects on communities across the country. 

Join us, as partners in prevention!

Prevention is the foundation of a safer school. Build it at SchoolSafety.gov.

The SchoolSafety.gov Back-to-School Campaign provides information and guidance that K-12 schools and school districts can use to prepare for a safe return to school.

The campaign aims to empower K-12 communities to learn about and engage with resources, trainings, and tools available through SchoolSafety.gov before, during, and after the back-to-school season.

Check out the Toolkit!