Widening The Door of Entry to Recovery for Young People

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the “Widening The Door of Entry to Recovery for Young People” webinar that was previously promoted on Reclaiming Futures.
The presentation was given by Anne Thompson, a board member of the Association of Recovery Schools and Greg Williams, Youth Co-Director of Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families (CTYF). Anne and Greg started out the presentation by sharing inspirational stories of their own recovery and highlighted the importance of the programs they represent.
A resounding theme throughout the presentation was the need for support in recovery, especially peer-to-peer support for youth. Every September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) celebrates National Recovery Month (Recovery Month). Recovery Month recognizes and lauds the gains made by individuals in recovery from substance use disorders and mental health problems. It also recognizes the efforts of treatment providers and families who support those in recovery. 
I encourage those in recovery, especially young people, to look for Recovery Month events in their area and to spread the word among their peers. Just as Greg Williams explained in an interview last June (as part of our Road to Recovery series), recovery can occur at any age, and young people can and do recover.
For more information about Greg’s story and the resources available for youth in recovery, watch the interview.
 

About the Author: Sarah Ikenberry is a Public Health Advisor at SAMHSA.