September is National Recovery Month—a time when people whose lives are touched by addiction, alcoholism, and substance use disorder come together to raise awareness of the problem and celebrate stories of hope and change.
Scottsdale Providence is proud to join in the celebration of National Recovery Month. This year, it means more than ever.
Those suffering from addiction have taken hard hits over the past 18 months of the coronavirus pandemic. As we reported early in the pandemic, everything that made the year difficult for people everywhere took an exceedingly brutal toll on people with substance use disorder. The coronavirus pandemic brought with it unprecedented stress due to job loss, isolation, grief, and uncertainty.
People lost loved ones, their jobs, their homes, and their sense of security. Even the most trusted stress coping mechanisms were stripped away: stuck indoors, people couldn’t exercise, see friends, or access health services or recovery meetings.
There was also a reported increase in overdoses that could have otherwise been avoided, yet have been deadly. Because of strict social isolation orders, many people found themselves using alone—leaving no one to call 911 or administer a life-saving dose of naloxone in the event of an overdose.
Sadly, the state of affairs before the pandemic was bleak. The country was already contending with an unprecedented scourge of drug-related deaths. Overdose deaths in 2017 surpassed that of deaths from H.I.V., car crashes, or gun violence at their peaks. 2018 marked a rare bright spot, as the first year in a decade where ODs had declined slightly in some places – likely a result of interventions to tackle the opioid epidemic. Experts now worry that all of those gains have been erased: “Basically all the progress we made has now been reversed. And this is even before the pandemic,” said Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Last year, overdose deaths rose 5%, killing roughly 72,000 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is another way to live. National Recovery Month helps spread awareness.
Here are the facts about addiction in America today:
- More than 87,000 Americans died of drug overdoses over the 12-month period that ended last September
- Almost 23 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment
- One in eight American adults, or 12.7 percent of the U.S. population, now meets diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder
- 13% of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use as a way of coping with stress or emotions related to COVID-19
- The early months of the pandemic brought an 18% increase nationwide in overdoses compared with those same months in 2019
- More than 40 U.S. states have seen increases in opioid-related mortality along with ongoing concerns for those with substance use disorders.
- Surveys of drug users and people in treatment in 11 states during the pandemic found that many had used drugs more often during that time — and used them alone more often
- Those with substance use disorders (SUD) are both more likely to develop COVID-19 and experience worse COVID-19 outcomes, including higher risk of hospitalization and mortality
National Recovery Month Helps Reignite Hope.
Thankfully, there is a way out. National Recovery Month is all about honoring those who have broken free and bringing awareness to those who are still suffering.
At Scottsdale Providence, we have assembled a world-class team of seasoned, compassionate, and trained professionals. We bring a combined 120 years of experience in the treatment industry and have helped countless people on the road to lasting recovery. We are more than clinicians, case managers, and counselors. Each member of our team shares an abiding commitment to every client that comes through our door. At Scottsdale Providence, our work is motivated by a genuine desire to connect people with real solutions – so they can live the lives they’ve always wanted.
We offer PHP, IOP and Evening IOP. Our therapists work with you to identify your goals and develop a program that fits you. Our comprehensive addiction treatment program includes individual and group therapy, psychiatric care and 12-Step Facilitation. The clinical foundation of our program is in Interactive Journaling, an innovative experiential modality that puts the client at the center of their change process. Our expert treatment team blends CBT, Motivational Interviewing, DBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, EMDR, Neurofeedback and Occupational Therapy to promote long term recovery. Psychiatric care, case management, discharge planning, acupuncture, yoga and fitness all make up a truly comprehensive treatment experience.
For people ready and willing to receive help, successful treatment remains an option. People can and do find lasting, happy recovery when offered the right support and comprehensive treatment. Scottsdale Providence remains a COVID-free environment and a safe place to find a fresh start. There is no better time than now. In fact, your life might just depend on it. Get in touch today and find a way out for good. Happy National Recovery Month!