DENVER (September 6, 2022) - September is National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), an observance held every September since 1989 to promote substance use treatment and recovery practices, lift up the recovery community, and honor service providers and communities who support the recovery process.
The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) acknowledges Recovery Month by sharing services to help people in Colorado embark on their recovery journeys.
“According to a Colorado Health Access Survey, more than 95,000 people in Colorado 18 and older reported that they did not get needed substance use treatment or counseling services in 2019. Quality, life-saving substance use treatment and recovery services exist in Colorado, and when they are utilized, recovery is possible in all settings,” said BHA Commissioner, Dr. Morgan Medlock.
We know that stigma is one of the main barriers keeping people from seeking treatment for a substance use disorder and/or recovery services. Recovery Cards Project, created by Colorado’s stigma reduction campaign Lift The Label, was created to spotlight the importance of recovery. Working with artists in Colorado and nationwide, we designed these cards to celebrate recovery, the efforts of those working to achieve it, and the people who support and encourage them every day. Colorado residents can order cards for free at RecoveryCardsProject.com.
In addition to stigma, access is a barrier that keeps people from seeking substance use disorder treatment and recovery services. Making sure people with substance use disorders and their families know where to go to find the right supports is a high priority for the BHA, which is why we created OwnPath. OwnPath is a searchable online directory that allows people in Colorado to find licensed behavioral health providers, search for specific services, or use a guided search to identify providers or resources that best meet their needs. Searches can be narrowed by criteria such as location, days of operation, language support, payment types accepted, and more.
Colorado also supports people who are pregnant and parenting people in seeking treatment for a substance use disorder or who are in recovery through a statewide initiative called Tough as a Mother (TAAM). TAAM connects pregnant and parenting people to treatment services and recovery supports in their communities. The campaign is candid and compassionate about the pressures of parenthood and speaks to the strength of mothers to overcome challenges, including a substance use disorder. One of the best ways to combat stigma is seeing the powerful lives being lived in recovery, and TAAM features mothers in recovery to inspire those on their journey.
Addiction can happen to anyone, and everyone can get help. The BHA is committed to providing quality recovery and treatment services to all people in Colorado. We stand with and lift up the recovery community. Together, we can recover.
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About the Behavioral Health Administration
The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) is a new cabinet member-led agency within the State of Colorado, housed within the Department of Human Services and is designed to be the single entity responsible for driving coordination and collaboration across state agencies to address behavioral health needs. Find us online at https://bha.colorado.gov/ or follow us on social media at @BHAConnect.