September will be National Recovery Week, Government has announced.

The theme for this year's celebration is 'Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery'.

This celebration is an initiative by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centre for Substance Abuse Treatment of the Department of Health and Human Services in the USA and is supported locally by the Department for National Drug Control and its community partners.

Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation, Dale Butler, said that Recovery Month efforts aim to promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of organisations that provide treatment and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders is possible.

He said the initiative aimed to raise public awareness, promote access to recovery, celebrate those in treatment and continue to educate the community about how to overcome the barriers of stigma and discrimination.

Recovery Month will focus on real people, real recovery, celebrating those in recovery who have a renewed outlook on life as well as the treatment and recovery support network and providers who help them in treatment and recovery.

Mr. Butler said alcohol and drugs impacted all Bermudians, whether it was through their own personal addiction, that of a friend or family member, community incidents or exposure to crime.

He said it was vital to educate the community about the impact that substance use disorders can have on families and children and to foster understanding within the community about substance use disorders and the stigma attached to them.

Mr. Butler said he believed that by raising awareness that substance use disorders are serious public health problems, they can be treated just as any other chronic disease. The community would be more open to providing a supportive environment for people in recovery and striving to be productive citizens.

The calendar of events to be highlighted includes newspaper interviews; recovery stories; radio ads, street banners and posters; distribution of a directory of treatment and prevention services for physicians, clinician and community members; various treatment agency activities, radio interviews, a 'Walk for Recovery', family fun days and barbeques.

There will also be an annual substance abuse counsellor of the year award dinner which will also include honouring three individuals who have dedicated a large portion of their professional and personal lives to helping people gain recovery from substance use disorders.

For further information, people can contact Ms. Joanne Dean, Treatment Officer, The Department for National Drug Control, 292-3049.