(ANGELA BRIGGS/WCLU NEWS)
Roughly 22 million Americans are in recovery, that comes to about one in every ten.
What is recovery? It means different things to different people, but it is centered on being sober and present in your life. Those in recovery are regular people, going about their daily lives, trying to make it in a world that often discounts them and a system that keeps them from getting out.
“We want to help them in any way we can,” said Barren County Judge Executive Micheal Hale. “We want to help remove barriers in their lives. We need them in our work force.”
Judge Hale will be signing a proclamation at 12:00 pm on Thursday in front of the courthouse to recognize Recovery Month.
Started in 1989, National Recovery Month is aimed at increasing awareness about mental health and substance abuse and to celebrate the gains that have been made. When an addict is in recovery, their entire life must change; new friends, new hobbies, and often times a new job in a new city. Everything about their life must change, almost overnight.
Years of stress have put family members at odds with each other, leaving the addict feeling even more removed. Court dates, probation visits, fines, fees and possibly a felony record, make it even harder to build a better life, which some had never thought was possible.
Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities around the country celebrate Recovery Month. Judge Hale said that addiction has hit so many families and we have to try and understand the root cause.
“We have to first understand what they actually go through,” said Judge Hale. “Addiction hits every family. It affects every family. That’s why the community needs to understand what an addict goes through.”
The proclamation will be signed at 12:00 pm today in front of the Barren County Courthouse. The public is invited to attend.
