This year marks the 25th annual celebration of National Recovery Month. To honor the occasion, Denver non-profit & treatment support center, Advocates for Recovery, sponsored and held a “Rally for Recovery” at Civic Center Park last Saturday.
Colorado officially proclaimed National Recovery Month in 2009. The city and county of Denver also proclaimed in 2009, stating that it “has made it a priority in the Drug Strategy Plan to achieve success in partnership with community organizations such as Advocates for Recovery to provide effective services, build awareness and effectively connect people to treatment.”
The latest figures from the National Institute on Drug Abuse show an increase in admissions to state-run treatment centers for heroin abuse, as well as an increase in new heroin users, making substance abuse treatment and education particularly crucial right now. Most state-run treatment programs follow a traditional model. However, more legislators are being attracted to Advocates for Recovery’s peer-led treatment programs – a “non-professional” alternative, led by individuals with first-hand experiences in addiction and recovery.
A recent SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) grant was awarded to Advocates for Recovery. The funds will be used to support peer-led treatment programs and recovery coach programs. Peer led recovery can help provide a deeper connection and accountability.
Director of the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health, Dr. Lisa Clements, spoke at the Rally. “We are continuing our investment in peer support,” she says. “We believe that it is much more helpful than any talk therapy that a professional would do. Having someone come alongside you with a shared experience can really create a powerful impact in their lives.”
The Rally for Recovery brought together a myriad of addiction and recovery focused organizations including the Salvation Army, the Colorado Meth Project, Stout Street Foundation, Young People in Recovery, the Betty Ford Center and many more.
Advocates for Recovery Board Member Natalie Hyman said, “It’s a wonderful thing to have a public celebration of people recovering from addiction and know that it’s possible and it’s worth it.”