COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – International Overdose Awareness Day is later this month, but a local recovery center started August with an event as part of its efforts to save lives. Throughout October and all year long, let’s celebrate all those who are doing prevention work in support of better, healthier lives for individuals, families, and communities. SAMHSA aims to increase public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery. In the years since Recovery Month launched, SAMHSA has timed announcements of initiatives and grant funding during Recovery Month, while collaborating with private and public entities to celebrate individuals during their long-term recoveries. In North Carolina, from January 2019 to December 2020, drug overdose deaths increased from 2,000 to 3,000, concurrent with national statistics.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW)

It’s important to understand that these changes could result from various other causes. For example, experts consider taking a prescribed opioid medication more frequently or at a higher dose than your clinician recommends to be a type of misuse. While important, these opportunities for awareness only make up a small fraction of the year. Knowing how to protect yourself and others around opioids is a year-round effort.

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Videos

List of NIMH science news including press releases, science updates and institute announcements. NIMH supports research at universities, medical centers, and other institutions via grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Download, read, and order free NIMH brochures and fact sheets about mental disorders and related topics. NIMH offers expert-reviewed information on mental disorders and a range of topics. The number of fatal overdoses in central Ohio has decreased over the past few years, according to the five-year trend report from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office.

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We are also working to ensure full parity between physical and mental health care so all Americans have access to quality, affordable care, including for substance use. Studies show that the earlier an individual starts smoking, drinking or using other drugs, the greater the likelihood of developing addiction. 9 out of 10 people who abuse or are addicted to nicotine, alcohol or other drugs began using these substances before they were 18. People who began using addictive substances before age 15 are nearly 7 times likelier to develop a substance problem than those who delay first use until age 21 or older. Every year that substance use is delayed during the period of adolescent brain development, the risk of addiction and substance abuse decrease. It is one of the most pressing issues facing our Nation that we must all tackle together.

Through community-based efforts involving youth, parents, educators, and government officers, we can strengthen the support systems that deter our Nation’s young people from drug consumption and improve both academic performance and workforce readiness. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the need victory programs to provide more resources to address substance use disorder. Substance use disorder touches families in every community, and it is essential that we invest in a broad range of services, including prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for mental health and substance use.

Retinopathy of Prematurity – Advice to Clinicians, Nurses and Social Workers

The report is accompanied by two infographics offering visually packaged highlight data as well as visual data by race and ethnicity. Today’s young people represent the most gifted, talented, and tolerant generation in American history. During National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, we recommit to providing families, educators, and communities with access to lifesaving resources. Education and prevention is still the most effective method to keep youth from developing substance abuse issues, which is why Congress 2011 declared October as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. Red Ribbon Week — recognized each year from October — is the nation’s largest and longest-running substance use prevention campaign.

Numbers from the coroner’s office showed 258 fatal overdoses in the county through the first two quarters of this year, 130 lower than the same period last year. Own Your Limits – Own Your Limits is a Defense Department (DOD) education campaign, aligned to the Defense Health Agency, for the U.S. military. The mission of the campaign is to help Service members learn to drink responsibly https://rehabliving.net/drug-addiction/ if they choose to drink alcohol. Drug Overdose Data, Evidence-based Strategies and Resources – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov). You can also utilize your local syringe services program to access sterile injection equipment and dispose of used materials. Use the North American Syringe Exchange Network’s directory to find a program in your area.

Nearly 6 million people in the United States alone are impacted by Bipolar Disorder, which is not easy to diagnose. World Bipolar Day is recognized every year on March 30 to bring attention to this often misunderstood mental health issue. National Eating Disorders alcohol and insomnia Awareness Week (NEDA) is recognized every February as a way for people to connect with others affected by eating disorders and share their experiences. NEDA occurs at different times of the month in the U.S. and Canada, but both countries observe it.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. Let us all take action to implement practice- and evidence-based prevention strategies and improve the health of our Nation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth. Last year, our Nation lost nearly 111,000 Americans to fatal overdoses — 1,000 of those lost to overdose were children and adolescents less than 18 years old.

1. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), more than 16 million adults in the U.S. battle depression.
2. Together, we can create a culture where substance use prevention is recognized — not just in October, but year-round!
3. Learn more about NIMH’s commitment to accelerating the pace of scientific progress and transforming mental health care.
4. Use these free digital, outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health.
5. Since 2011, October has been recognized as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month in the United States.

Over the past 2 years, we have seen immense progress, but there is still work to do. That means we are investing in what works — prevention, treatment, and recovery support. My Fiscal Year 2024 budget called for $3.5 billion for prevention programming for youth — an increase of more than $800 million from last year — so we can keep America’s children safe from the harms of substance use and fentanyl poisoning. Below is a list of substance use and mental health awareness events by month that provides useful information and tools so everyone can live a better life. Millions of Americans are touched by substance use and mental health issues daily.

I believe everyone who experiences substance use disorder is capable of achieving and sustaining recovery, and my Administration will support all Americans on this journey. This National Recovery Month, we thank peer recovery support professionals, counselors, addiction specialists, first responders, scientists, family members, and everyone who works tirelessly to help our fellow Americans recover from substance use disorder. And we rededicate ourselves to protecting our families and communities so all Americans can enjoy health and happiness.

My Administration proposed a rule this summer that reinforces the fundamental goal of the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, ensuring families have the same access to mental health and substance use benefits as they do to physical health benefits. The rule proposes making it easier to get in-network mental health care and eliminating administrative barriers to access that keep people from getting the care they need, when they need it. Globally, drug and alcohol use and misuse lead to enormous societal and economic burdens. The economic impact of substance misuse is estimated at over $440 billion dollars in the US alone. Last year in the US there were a record number of drug overdose deaths, including over 3,000 overdose deaths in NC during 2020.

Because of the way alcohol modifies brain circuits and neurotransmission, quitting “cold turkey” can result in seizures and even death. Physicians can prescribe other medications to reduce this risk and assist their patient in recovery. Behavioral treatments for SUD, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and contingency management, are also effective options for the treatment of SUD. Mutual support groups, including traditional 12-step programs and SMART Recovery, are easily accessible and remain the most utilized treatments for SUD. Ongoing research at UNC and other institutions is exploring novel treatment options for alcohol use disorder and SUD.