September is quickly approaching, with schools back in session and fall in the air. September is also Recovery Month.
Recovery Month actually starts a day earlier each year, with International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. The goal of both the Awareness Day and Recovery Month is to raise awareness of the number of people affected by overdoses, as well as substance use in general, and allows the communities to support those beginning their recovery journey, along with those who have years in recovery.
Substance use is a major issue in Kentucky, as well as elsewhere. The rate of overdose deaths have decreased for the last three years, however, it is still important to recognize that, according to the KY Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, there were 13 deaths in Whitley County in 2024 from unintentional drug overdoses.
Although this may seem like a small number compared to the population of the county, this number only represents the number of deaths, and not the number of unintentional drug overdoses that people survive. In 2022, approximately 46.3 million Americans aged 12 or older were diagnosed with a substance use disorder. The good news is that there is an estimated 21 million Americans who are in recovery. Because of this, and services available for those with a substance use disorder, there is hope that even more people can live in recovery in the future.
Stigma exists when it comes to substance use disorders, and the treatment of them. There are many opinions on what causes substance use disorders and how they are effectively treated. Regardless of your opinion of the cause and the appropriate treatment, the fact remains that no one wakes up one day and decides to develop a substance use disorder. There are many factors that play a role into the development of a substance use disorder, and there are many effective treatments today. If we are not open to listening to others about how they came to have a substance use disorder, and the types of treatment that have or have not been effective for them, then we are continuing the stigma that creates barriers to individuals getting the help that they need.
Those with substance use disorders are our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. We love and care for these people, and we should be willing to listen to how they developed a substance use disorder and assist them in getting the help they need so that they can be in recovery instead of another fatality from an unintentional drug overdose. We would do this if they were suffering from other ailments, so we should be willing to do this when they are suffering from substance use disorders.
Recovery Month gives an opportunity to celebrate the ones in recovery while giving hope to those who want to be in recovery. If you or someone you love is looking for inpatient or outpatient treatment, recovery housing, or Naloxone, resources throughout Kentucky can be found at findhelpnowky.org.
