September is National Recovery Month, a national observance held every year to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. Now in its 27th year, Recovery Month highlights the achievements of individuals who have reclaimed their lives in long-term recovery and honors the treatment and recovery service providers who make recovery possible.
The statistics on drug and alcohol addiction alone are staggering (from Nationwide Trends):
- In 2013 (last record available), an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older — 9.4 percent of the population — had used an illicit drug in the past month.
- In 2013, 30.2 percent of men and 16.0 percent of women 12 and older reported binge drinking in the past month.
- Overdoses caused by painkillers are more common than heroin and cocaine overdoses combined.
- 6.8 million people with an addiction have a mental illness.
Most people have been touched by addiction in some form whether their personal challenge, a family member, or friend. Recognition of the courage and strength required to overcome these addictions is not just for Recovery Month.
Fire Power Seminars stands with all those who are working towards recovery, have achieved recovery, their families, and the professionals who have facilitated these life-changing breakthroughs. It is our honor to join the voices for recovery and continue to work with recovery groups monthly in our business. The emotional moments that we have witnessed in our recovery/treatment empowerment seminars have kept us going in our ten years of business!
“Fire Power Seminars changed my life and the lives of the people I have brought. In the weeks following a seminar there is a change in the actions of all my clients … they start taking calculated risks, doing things that used to scare them. And what is further intriguing is that they don’t seem to realize they are doing it. My job becomes easier because I have clients willing to leave their comfort zone to improve their lives. I recommend Fire Power Seminars to everyone.” ~ Lou Agudo, COO and Program Director at Water’s Edge Recovery, Stuart, Florida
There are millions of Americans whose lives have been transformed through recovery. Since these successes often go unnoticed by the broader population, Recovery Month provides a vehicle for everyone to celebrate these accomplishments. Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities around the country celebrate National Recovery Month. They speak about the gains made by those in recovery and share their success stories with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In doing so, everyone helps to increase awareness and furthers a greater understanding about the diseases of mental and substance use disorders.
Recovery Month also promotes the message that recovery in all of its forms is possible and encourages citizens to take action to help expand and improve the availability of effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services for those in need.
To all those who are participating in National Recovery Month, we send strength and big cheers!
Fire Power Seminars offers powerful experiential seminars in a safe and supportive environment, where participants learn how powerful they truly are. Whether it’s alcohol or other drugs … or any of a myriad of other self-destructive patterns … participants learn to recognize the strength within to move beyond their fears. We facilitate breakthroughs to overcome their patterns and addictions and, thus empowered, they achieve. Contact us today to discuss which activities will complement your programs.
Karen PfefferKaren is passionate about sharing powerful programs on communication, empowerment, team building and transformation. With a father from Kansas and a mother from Puerto Rico, Karen has a unique cultural mix that has inspired her to challenge stereotypes and “push the envelope” at every opportunity. She co-founded Fire Power Seminars with Connie Phelan in 2006 to empower individuals, organizations, and companies to achieve more than they ever thought possible.