National Recovery Month is celebrated every September to raise awareness and celebrate those who have faced substance abuse or addiction, along with anyone involved in the substance abuse recovery effort along the way. September’s Recovery Month provides an opportunity for recovery stories to be told and aims to reduce the negative perceptions and shame often associated with substance abuse. The purpose of recovery Month is to applaud every individual who has bettered themselves by facing their addiction and embraced a sober lifestyle.

Substance Abuse in New Jersey

New Jersey substance abuse occurrences are high, given the availability of most drugs in the Northeast. Because of this, drug overdose deaths are greater in New Jersey than most of the US. New Jersey has a history with heroin use and fentanyl circulation in particular, which has heavily contributed to the state’s drug overdose death rate. In 2018, roughly 90% of drug overdose deaths in New Jersey were due to some type of opioid (prescription or synthetic) and preliminary CDC data for 2019 indicates that overdoses recorded in New Jersey were about the same in 2019 as they were in 2018.

The availability of drugs in New Jersey necessitate a vast recovery network that is able to reach those struggling with addiction. Recovery Month highlights this network by shining a light on the intricate system that contributes to recovery support.

The History of National Recovery Month

Recovery month was created by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Now, in its 31st year, the SAMHSA Recovery Month will be supported by the Faces and Voices of Recovery, an organization dedicated to vocalizing the needs of the millions of Americans living a sober life through addiction recovery. Faces and Voices of Recovery created a new website for Recovery Month 2020 where you can find Recovery Month events or submit your own event to the Recovery Month calendar.

Recovery Month 2020 in New Jersey

The theme for National Recovery Month 2020 is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Connections,” which speaks to the importance of connection during recovery, even in times of socially distanced gatherings.

In previous years, New Jersey Recovery Month events have occurred in-person throughout the state. Due to the restrictions surrounding COVID-19, the majority of 2020 Recovery Month celebrations are being held virtually this year, which includes many recovery support group meetings. Rest assured that despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, the recovery community is still here, and that recovery from addiction and mental health in New Jersey are still priorities.

A few examples of online New Jersey recovery events include:

• HOPE’s Virtual 5k walk (September 12, 2020)
• Empower 5k Run and 1k Walk (September 11-13, 2020)
• NJ Recovery Support Conference 2020 (September 25, 2020)
• New Jersey Recovery Advocates Walk Rally (in person – September 19, 2020)
• 8th Annual New Jersey’s Walk/Run for Recovery (West Windsor or Virtual – September 19, 2020)

For updated recovery month events, check out NJ-CARS September event calendar or the official Faces and Voices of Recovery calendar for Recovery Month events.

Additional Recovery Month Ideas During COVID-19

Many addiction recovery events may be virtual this year, but the sky’s the limit on ways to become involved in Recovery Month. Recovery supporters can promote connection through one of the following online recovery event ideas:

• Be a voice for recovery on social media and support sober living in New Jersey. Show your support on your social media platforms with recovery hashtags (#RecoveryMonth2020, #NRM2020), sharing educational posts or become a point of contact for someone needing connection during this socially-distanced time.
• Sponsor a recovery support service in your area. NJ-CARS offers numerous sponsorship opportunities on their website, allowing you to be involved without being front and center.
• View a virtual seminar. The Recovery Village offers webinars like our recent recovery panel, where some of our community outreach team members shared their own recovery journey, and consider methods of coping during COVID-19.

Help When You Need It at The Recovery Village Cherry Hill

The Recovery Village Cherry Hill has partnered with Cooper University Health Care to provide a new, state of the art behavioral disorder and substance abuse treatment facility in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. While the grand opening of the Cherry Hill facility has been temporarily delayed due to COVID-19, this brand new treatment center will offer medical detox services as well as inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs and recovery support for life after rehab.

The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper is part of the Advanced Recovery Systems nationwide network of treatment centers, offering behavioral health and recovery support to those when they need it most.

If you or someone you know could benefit from help with behavioral disorders or drug rehab in the New Jersey area, contact us for more information about addiction treatment at our South Jersey drug treatment center.