National Recovery Month was established in 1989 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). They have since transferred responsibilities to Faces & Voices of Recovery (FAVOR). FAVOR’s tag line is, “Recovery Is For Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.” The purpose of National Recovery Month is to educate the public about mental health services as well as substance abuse treatments. The official color for National Recovery Month is purple. Other colors can be included with purple, such as turquoise, which represents Addiction Recovery Awareness. Not only does National Recovery Month strive to educate the public, it also recognizes and celebrates those who succeed in recovery. Communities as a whole, play a part in recovery and awareness. Through education and awareness, the stigma of addiction and mental health is diminished.
Relative to education, we want to share with you the five facts of addiction, according to National Today:
- Alcohol is most abused.
- Addiction alters brain structure.
- Addition co-occurs with other disorders.
- Americans consume 80% of prescription pills.
- Most addicts work.
We hope this knowledge has helped you better understand National Recovery Month’s mission and purpose. At Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services, we appreciate attention being called to addiction and to mental health recovery.
We have, in our programs at Pine Grove, Peer Support Specialists and these are employees who work with our patients by sharing their own recovery experiences, strength, and hope. Our patients seem to really appreciate hearing part of the recovery solution from these employees. We hope this information has enlightened you to addiction and mental health. As part of our community, perhaps you would share this information with a neighbor or friend.
This guest post was written by Eileene McRae and Erin Konves, Business Development & Alumni Coordinators for Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services.
About Eileene McRae and Erin Konves, Business Development & Alumni Coordinators
Eileene McRae has worked in the addiction services field for over 43 years. As a certified alcohol and drug counselor, earlier in her career, she guided families and residential patients to recovery. Ms. McRae has also worked in community outreach, educating students, civic clubs and other organizations about addiction and alcoholism. Her speaking demands have carried her all over the United States as well as Canada. She has particularly enjoyed working with young children living with parental addiction. As a result of that interest, she authored a book in 2008 titled, Home At Last, a story told through the eyes of two brother frogs that live with a practicing alcoholic father frog. While working at the Central Mississippi National Council on Alcoholism, she wrote and initiated the first educational program for young children in Mississippi who had a parent in treatment for addiction.
As Alumni Coordinator, Erin Konves leads a variety of diverse 12-step groups for Pine Grove’s nationally recognized and respected specialty treatment programs. Additionally, Ms. Konves meets with Pine Grove’s patients upon discharge to engage them in the organization’s alumni program, and she follows up with them once they have returned to their hometowns, following their treatment. She also hosts a weekly multi-family online session to educate families about addiction, and directs a weekly aftercare meeting for Pine Grove’s alumni that focuses on specific recovery topics. In addition, Ms. Konves works diligently to coordinate Pine Grove’s quarterly Days of Hope reunions to connect alumni with current Pine Grove patients for continued hope and inspiration.
About Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services
Located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services is one of the nation’s most comprehensive treatment campuses. Pine Grove’s world renowned programs treat gender specific substance abuse including specialized tracks for co-occurring eating disorders and trauma. Additionally, Pine Grove offers an Intensive Outpatient substance abuse healing program for adults and a separate treatment track specifically for those who are age 55 plus. Other Pine Grove specialty programs include a dedicated professional’s treatment curriculum and a comprehensive evaluation center. Pine Grove also features a program for patients with sexual addiction. Inpatient Services including an Adult Psychiatric Unit, along with a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, and Outpatient Services are other components. Pine Grove is a division of Forrest Health, a partnership of healthcare organizations across South Mississippi, and the behavioral healthcare extension of Forrest General Hospital, a 547 bed, level II Regional Trauma Center. Established in 1984, Pine Grove has provided nationally and internationally recognized health care for 40 years. For more information, please visit www.pinegrovetreatment.com and call 1-888-574-HOPE (4673).
