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September is National Recovery Month in the CNMI
Sept. 20 is National Addictions Professionals Day
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, bottom row sixth from left, shares a photo with the CNMI’s addictions professionals after an Aug. 27 proclamation signing that designates September as National Recovery Month in the CNMI and Sept. 20 as National Addictions Professionals Day. Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios held a proclamation signing last Friday at the Office of the Governor conference room. (Contributed photo)
September is National Recovery Month in the CNMI, and Sep. 20 will hereby be recognized as National Addictions Professionals Day, commemorating the hard work that addiction professionals do on a daily basis. The theme for Recovery Month this year is “Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community”.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios made official Recovery Month and National Addictions Professionals Day during a proclamation signing on Aug. 27 at the Office of the Governor conference room.
It was shared during the proclamation Friday that mental health and substance use disorder has had a nationwide impact, as 70% of users who try an illegal drug before 13 years old develop a substance use disorder within the next seven years, compared to 27% of those who try an illegal drug after age 17.
It was also learned Friday that the CNMI’s HOPE Recovery Center—which is the CNMI’s sole substance abuse residential treatment provider—recently reported that “the greatest intake for services are self-referrals at 53%,” and that the center “aims to promote and support evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the Commonwealth, who make recovery in all its forms possible.”
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios are joined by addictions professionals and supporters in front of the Office of the Governor after the designation of September as National Recovery Month in the CNMI and Sept. 20 as National Addictions Professionals Day. (Contributed photo)
By proclaiming September as National Recovery Month in the CNMI and designating Sept. 20 as National Addictions Professionals Day, the Office of the Governor and the HOPE Recovery Center aim to bring awareness to mental health and substance use disorders; encourage those in need of recovery to seek help; and honor the work of addictions professionals.
In a Facebook post Friday from the Office of the Governor about the proclamation signing, Yvette R. Sablan—who is special assistant for Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Rehabilitation—“thanked individuals in the community for their commitment and life-changing hard work in building awareness about substance use and addiction, which has been impactful in reducing the stigmas that prevent our loved ones from receiving treatment and support.”
