Ocala Standard

At the meeting on September 7, the Marion County Commission recognized September as National Recovery Month. An estimated 10,000,000 people in the United States are affected by mental and/or substance use disorders. Citizens are encouraged to support Recovery Month and to honor those lost to addiction and fentanyl poisoning. The county commissioners are addressing this through the theme, “Recovery Is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.”

National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.

“Providing health and well-being is a priority of this commission”, said Carl Zalak, Chairman of the Marion County Commission. “We have started putting out public service announcements to our community to make sure they are health conscious and understand the risks of mental/substance illnesses. We will continue to build upon that and provide opportunities for our communities to thrive in a safe and healthy manner.”

Moreover, Mark Lander, Administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Marion County, said, “Increasing access to recovery services is a key component in fighting substance abuse and saving lives. Through collaborative efforts, Marion County is prioritizing these services to support individuals suffering with substance use disorder. Educating our community on available resources is key to overcoming addiction.”

The goal is to increase public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery. In the years since Recovery Month launched, several initiatives have helped families and individuals. Furthermore, grant funding has been disbursed to recovery organizations to help with the cost of those needing assistance. This initiative has helped the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) collaborate with private and public entities to celebrate individuals during their long-term recoveries.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the Marion County Commission invite all residents of Marion County to participate in National Recovery Month. For more information regarding National Recovery Month please visit marion.floridahealth.gov or samhsa.gov/recovery-month.