Each September, communities across America observe National Recovery Month. This event reminds us that recovery from drug and alcohol addiction is possible. It’s happening all around us every day. Recovery Month was started by SAMHSA in 1989. SAMHSA stands for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The goal is simple: reduce shame around addiction, celebrate people in recovery, and show the many ways people can heal.
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Recovery Month shows an important truth. According to a 2020 study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, more than 20.5 million U.S. adults (74.8% of all adults) reported being in recovery from a serious drug or alcohol problem. These success stories include parents, workers, students, veterans, and first responders. People from every walk of life have found their way to recovery.
The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found more good news. Of the 48.7 million people with substance use problems, nearly half (46%) consider themselves to be in recovery or recovered. That’s 22.4 million people living proof that recovery works.
This year’s Recovery Month challenges wrong ideas about addiction and recovery. It highlights the different ways people can heal. Some choose complete sobriety. Others use medications for addiction treatment (MAT). Still others use harm reduction methods. Many combine different approaches. The goal is the same: helping people live healthier, happier lives.
SAMHSA says “recovery is real.” They define it as a process where people improve their health and wellness. People in recovery live self-directed lives and reach their full potential.
Recovery looks different for every person. That’s exactly how it should be. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) focuses on four main areas of recovery: health, home, community, and purpose. These are the building blocks all people need. They help people live healthy, happy lives and reach their goals.
Good health forms the foundation of recovery. This means more than just treating the addiction itself. It also includes managing mental health conditions, chronic pain, or other health issues. Among the 48.7 million people with substance use problems, 55.8% (27.2 million people) also had a mental illness. This shows why complete care is so important. Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both issues together.
For many people, medication helps with recovery. Evidence-based drugs like buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex), methadone, and naltrexone (Vivitrol) work well. Research shows MAT reduces deaths by about 50% among people with opioid addiction.
Having a safe place to live is key to recovery. This might mean sober living homes, supportive housing programs, or making sure someone’s current home supports their recovery goals. Where someone lives plays a huge role in successful recovery. A supportive home makes all the difference.
Recovery works best with community support. This includes formal support groups, peer recovery programs, faith communities, or informal networks of friends and family. Connection with others is vital. Community support helps reduce isolation and provides hope through shared experiences.
Finding meaning in life gives people reasons to stay in recovery. This might be through work, school, volunteering, creative projects, or relationships. This part recognizes that people need more than just stopping drug or alcohol use. They need fulfilling, meaningful lives.
One of Recovery Month’s most important goals is reducing the stigma that surrounds addiction and recovery. Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to people seeking help. Stigma around substance use disorders is one of the biggest barriers to treatment and recovery, preventing many from accessing life-saving care.
Common misconceptions about addiction continue to cause harm:
Myth: Addiction is a moral failing or lack of willpower.
Reality: Addiction is a complex medical condition that affects brain chemistry and function, influenced by genetic, environmental, and social factors.
Myth: People with addiction can’t be trusted or are dangerous.
Reality: People with substance use disorders are parents, professionals, students, and community members who deserve compassion and support.
Myth: Recovery requires hitting “rock bottom” before someone can get better.
Reality: Early intervention and treatment at any stage can be effective. People don’t need to lose everything before they deserve help.
Myth: Treatment doesn’t work because relapse is common.
Reality: the relapse rate for substance use disorders is 40% to 60%. However, this risk decreases sharply over time. Research shows that after 5 years of continuous recovery, the relapse rate drops to approximately 15%.
The words we use when talking about addiction and recovery can either perpetuate stigma or promote understanding. Person-first language recognizes the humanity of individuals beyond their struggles. Instead of “addict” or “drug user,” we can say “person with substance use disorder” or “person in recovery.” These small changes in language reflect bigger shifts in how we view and treat people facing addiction.
Recovery Month 2025 provides an opportunity to highlight harm reduction approaches that save lives and create pathways to healing. Harm reduction is an evidence-based approach that is critical to engaging with people who use drugs and equipping them with life-saving tools and information to create positive change in their lives and potentially save their lives.
Harm reduction recognizes that not everyone is ready or able to stop using substances completely, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve care and support. Harm reduction strategies include:
Harm reduction offers an opportunity to reach people who aren’t otherwise accessing healthcare services ― and offer them naloxone to reverse an overdose, and help connect them to other needed services.
Rather than competing with abstinence-based approaches, harm reduction often serves as a bridge to more intensive treatment. treatment services (such as medications for opioid use disorder) can be co-located with harm reduction services and offered as an option. This approach recognizes that recovery is a journey, and people may need different types of support at different stages.
The evidence supporting harm reduction is compelling. Syringe services programs (SSPs) can reduce the occurrence of HIV and hepatitis C. These programs improve public safety through safe needle provision and disposal and are not associated with an increase in crime.
While media coverage often focuses on the challenges of addiction, research data reveal incredible reasons for hope. Studies consistently show that addiction treatment can be highly effective when people have access to appropriate care and support.
Research consistently shows that longer treatment episodes lead to better outcomes. A study published in the Open Journal of Psychiatry found that after one year, more than half (55%) of patients who completed a 30-day rehab program maintained their recovery. The percentage significantly rises for those who remained in treatment for more than 30 days, with 85% successfully maintaining sobriety over the one-year follow-up period.
Recovery approaches and outcomes vary depending on the substance involved:
Opioid Use Disorder: MAT has revolutionized opioid addiction treatment, with research showing approximately 50% reduction in overdose deaths when combining FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies.
Alcohol Use Disorder: Treatment approaches include both medications (naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram) and behavioral interventions, with outcomes improving significantly when treatment is individualized to patient needs.
Stimulant Use Disorders: Though no FDA-approved medications exist yet, NIDA research shows that transitioning from high use (five or more days a month) to lower use (one to four days a month) is associated with lower levels of drug craving, depression, and other drug-related challenges, demonstrating that reduction in use is also a meaningful treatment outcome.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, remember that effective treatment options are available through organizations like Porch Light Health, which offers comprehensive Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) services throughout Colorado and New Mexico.
Recovery Month 2025 emphasizes that addiction affects all communities, and recovery resources must be accessible to everyone. The permanent tagline that has been adopted by National Recovery Month is “Every Person. Every Family. Every Community.” The idea behind this theme is that substance abuse and addictions impact everyone, and it is important to the recovery process to have support and care on a variety of levels.
Unfortunately, not everyone has equal access to treatment and recovery resources. Factors like geography, income, insurance status, race, and ethnicity can all affect someone’s ability to get help. Rural communities face particular challenges, with fewer treatment options and longer travel distances to access care.
Recovery Month provides an opportunity to advocate for policies and programs that address these disparities. Mobile treatment services (mobile MAT clinics), telehealth options, and culturally responsive care can help bridge these gaps and ensure that recovery resources reach all communities.
Programs supporting job placement and vocational training are linked to improved treatment outcomes and reduced relapse risk, underscoring the critical role of economic stability in addiction recovery. Recovery often involves rebuilding not just health, but also careers, relationships, and financial stability.
Similarly, education plays a protective role in preventing substance use disorders. Research demonstrates that substance use disorder rates vary significantly by education level, with higher educational attainment generally associated with lower rates of substance use problems.
Recovery Month reminds us that we all have a role to play in supporting people on their recovery journeys. One of the most important impacts a person can make is to support a friend or family member in their recovery process. Not sure how to help? Just ask! Perhaps it could be something as simple as saying how proud you are of them and that you noticed their hard work.
Listen without judgment: Sometimes the most powerful support is simply being present and listening when someone wants to talk about their recovery journey.
Learn about recovery: Understanding addiction as a medical condition rather than a moral failing can help you provide more effective support.
Respect their boundaries: People in recovery may need to avoid certain places, people, or situations. Supporting their boundaries shows respect for their recovery process.
Celebrate milestones: Recovery anniversaries and achievements deserve recognition and celebration.
Be patient: Recovery is a process, not an event. There may be setbacks along the way, and ongoing support is crucial.
Communities can take steps to become more recovery-friendly:
One of the most significant advances in addiction treatment has been the development of medications that can help people achieve and maintain recovery. These evidence-based treatments have transformed outcomes for many people struggling with substance use disorders.
Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) work in different ways:
For Opioid Use Disorder:
For Alcohol Use Disorder:
Unfortunately, stigma around medications for addiction treatment persists, even within some recovery communities. Some people view MAT as “trading one addiction for another,” but this misconception ignores the scientific evidence. MAT medications are prescribed and monitored by medical professionals, taken as prescribed, and don’t produce euphoria when used appropriately.
For many people, MAT provides the stability needed to engage in therapy, rebuild relationships, return to work or school, and participate fully in life. This represents true recovery – not the absence of all substances, but the presence of health, stability, and purposeful living.
As we observe Recovery Month 2025, there’s reason for optimism about the future of addiction treatment and recovery. According to provisional data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, there were an estimated 80,391 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2024—a decrease of 26.9% from the 110,037 deaths estimated in 2023. This represents the lowest level of annual drug overdose deaths since 2019.
The field continues to evolve with new treatment approaches and technologies:
Technology is creating new opportunities for support and treatment:
Behind every statistic is a real person with their own unique recovery story. Recovery Month provides an opportunity to celebrate these individual journeys while recognizing the diversity of paths to healing.
Some people achieve stable recovery through traditional 12-step programs. Others find success through MAT combined with therapy. Still others use harm reduction approaches as stepping stones to further treatment. Many people combine multiple approaches, and some find that their needs change over time.
What matters isn’t the specific path someone takes, but that they have access to the resources and support they need to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Recovery is deeply personal, and what works for one person may not work for another.
Every person who has found recovery had to take that first step: reaching out for help, calling a treatment program, talking to their doctor, or simply deciding that they deserved better. These moments of courage deserve recognition and celebration.
Organizations like Porch Light Health work to ensure that when people are ready to take that step, comprehensive, compassionate care is available to support their journey.
Recovery Month 2025 carries a message of hope: recovery is real, recovery is possible, and recovery is happening all around us. The millions of Americans who have found recovery represent every demographic, every profession, and every community. They are parents who can now fully be present for their children, professionals who have rebuilt their careers, and community members who have become advocates for others still struggling.
This September, we can all play a role in creating a more supportive environment for people affected by addiction. We can challenge stigma through education and compassion, support policies that expand access to treatment, and remember that behind every person struggling with addiction is someone deserving of dignity, respect, and the opportunity to heal.
If you or someone you know is ready to begin the recovery journey, comprehensive addiction treatment services are available. Porch Light Health offers evidence-based treatment, including MAT, behavioral health services, and compassionate care across Colorado and New Mexico. With over 60 locations, including mobile services and telehealth options, treatment is accessible regardless of where you live or your current circumstances.
Contact our admissions team at (866) 394-6123 to learn more about how our comprehensive approach to addiction treatment can support you or your loved one’s path to recovery.
This practice serves all patients regardless of inability to pay. A sliding fee scale for medical and behavioral addiction services is offered based on family size and income. For more information, please contact us at (866) 394-6123 and speak with a representative.
National Recovery Month is observed every September. It was established in 1989 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to promote awareness of mental health and substance use recovery.
Recovery Month aims to reduce stigma surrounding addiction and mental health disorders, celebrate people in recovery, and educate the public about evidence-based treatment options that help people achieve and maintain recovery.
According to a 2020 study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, more than 1 in 10 adults (27.5 million) in the U.S. reported ever having a substance use problem, and among those with a problem, nearly 75% (20.5 million) reported being in recovery. Additionally, the 2023 NSDUH found that 22.4 million people with past-year substance use disorders consider themselves to be in recovery or recovered.
Treatment success varies by approach and duration. Research shows that longer treatment episodes lead to better outcomes, with studies indicating that those who remain in treatment longer than 30 days achieve significantly higher success rates than those in shorter programs.
Yes, MAT is highly effective. Research shows MAT reduces overdose deaths by approximately 50% among people with opioid use disorder. MAT combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies.
Three main types of medications are used: buprenorphine (including Suboxone), methadone, and naltrexone (including Vivitrol). Each works differently to reduce cravings, prevent withdrawal, or block the effects of opioids or alcohol.
Harm reduction is an evidence-based approach that reduces the negative consequences of drug use without requiring immediate abstinence. Programs like needle exchanges and naloxone distribution save lives and often serve as pathways to treatment.
Support someone in recovery by listening without judgment, learning about addiction as a medical condition, respecting their boundaries, celebrating their milestones, and being patient with their recovery process.
Yes, treatment options include inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient programs, medications for addiction treatment (MAT), behavioral therapy, support groups, and telehealth services. The best approach depends on individual needs and circumstances.
Treatment duration varies widely. Some people benefit from 30-day programs, while others need longer-term care lasting months or years. Research shows that staying in treatment for at least 90 days significantly improves outcomes.
Most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, cover addiction treatment services. The Mental Health Parity Act requires insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as they do for medical conditions.
Jones, C. M., Noonan, R. K., & Compton, W. M. (2020). Prevalence and correlates of ever having a substance use problem and substance use recovery status among adults in the United States, 2018. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 214, 108169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108169
National Association of Counties. (2025). Medication-Assisted Treatment (“MAT”) for Opioid Use Disorder: A NACo Opioid Solutions Strategy Brief. https://www.naco.org/resource/osc-mat
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2025). Treatment and Recovery. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). SAMHSA Releases Annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20240730/samhsa-releases-annual-national-survey-drug-use-and-health
Mohammad, A., et al. (2017). Addiction Treatment Aftercare Outcome Study. Open Journal of Psychiatry, 7(1), 1-15. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312300670_Addiction_Treatment_Aftercare_Outcome_Study
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2024). Reduced drug use is a meaningful treatment outcome for people with stimulant use disorders. https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2024/01/reduced-drug-use-is-a-meaningful-treatment-outcome-for-people-with-stimulant-use-disorders
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025, May 14). Drug overdose deaths continue to decline in 2024 [Press release]. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2025/20250514.htm
