Recovery Month 2009

Did You Know? September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. More than 23 million people aged 12 or older needed treatment for a substance use disorder in the United States in 2007, and in Ohio alone, over 900 thousand individuals over the age of 12 per month report dependency and/or addiction to alcohol or illicit drugs. Many people do not understand that addiction is a treatable disease, and this misconception can keep people from getting help. In 2007, as many as 20.8 million people nationwide needed but did not receive treatment at a specialty facility. For more information, please visit the National Recovery Month 2009 website.

Healthy Aging Month

September is Healthy Aging Month. The month, created by Educational Television Network over 15 years ago, is part of the Healthy Aging® Campaign, a national, ongoing health promotion designed to broaden awareness of the positive aspects of aging and to provide inspiration for adults, ages 50-plus, to improve their physical, mental, social and financial health. Having a positive attitude towards aging helps one age more healthy! For more information, please visit the Healthy Aging website.

Sept 6-12 is Suicide Prevention Week

September 6-12, 2009 is Suicide Prevention Week. In the United States, one person takes their own life every 16 minutes. Each suicide affects at least six other people, including family members, friends and treating professionals. Ohio ranks #29 among all the states in number of suicides. Risk factors include mental illness, substance abuse, previous suicide attempts, hopelessness, access to lethal means, recent loss of loved, ones, unemployment and vulnerability to self-harm (just a few examples). For more information, or to download the informational kit for National Suicide Prevention week, please visit the American Association of Suicidology website.