The month of September is set to focus the microscope of addiction awareness from the international to the local in Maury County as National Recovery Month aims to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse.
Promising news in overdose deaths has come slowly in recent years, but in May, the Centers for Disease Control reported its first annual drop in overdose deaths since 2018, with a 3% decline in deaths from 2022 to 2023.
In 2022, 111,029 lives were lost to overdose addiction with a total of decreased to 107,543 people who died as a result of drug overdose last year.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, since 1989 has observed National Recovery Month every September to “promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible.”
Spots of light in the fight continue locally in Maury County with campaigns and efforts that are ever more increasing.
The Herald recently caught up with some of the participants for the annual community awareness events, as September promises to brings National Recovery Month into focus again.
International Overdose Awareness Day was Aug. 31, marking another year for Light From the Darkness, a survivor support group, which held a candlelight vigil hosted by Fresh Start Recovery Church at its new home base Columbia First United Methodist Church.
Speakers and community awareness groups gathered for a night to share their stories, educate the community and participate in a candlelight vigil for those lost to drug overdose deaths.
Recovery Fest
Sept. 14 will see Recovery Fest return to Riverside with a gathering of organizations and groups who seek to celebrate the community of recovery in Maury County.
Filling up the downtown side of Riverwalk Park, organizers will pitch tents, share stories of hope and educate others, cook food, play games and even create a family atmosphere with plenty of events for kids such as a bouncy house.
The event will begin at 2.p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14 at 102 Riverside Dr. in Columbia, ending at 8 p.m.
The need to gain ground in addiction awareness and resources is as urgent as ever, says Maury County Prevention Coalition directors, Carla Walker and Amanda Schmith, as they shared recently updated statistics from around the region.
Place of Hope Tent Revival
As long-time treatment pioneers in the Maury County area, A Place of Hope will cap off Addiction Awareness month in September with a tent revival for their clients and for the outside community to join the faith-based treatment center in its annual revival.
The Coupe family has made the annual festival a constant for their facility, inviting a different church every night for two weeks to bring a message of hope and a time of spiritual refreshing to clients, their families and friends.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: September marks National Recovery Month with Maury County events
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