Cross-posted from blog.aids.gov
Written By:  Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
September marks the 23rd annual observance of National Recovery Month (Recovery Month).  Our colleagues at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA) organize Recovery Month as an observance to educate Americans on the fact that addiction treatment and mental health services can enable people with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live healthy and rewarding lives. The main focus is to celebrate the gains made …

Written By: Wilmarie Hernandez, Consumer Affairs, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
On August 15, SAMHA hosted a forum on Young People in Recovery (YPR).  The panel discussion, moderated by Ivette Torres, Associate Director, Consumer Affairs, featured three young adults, Sarah Nerad, Danielle Tarino and Benjamin Chin.
Sarah, Danielle and Ben shared their personal recovery stories as well as the programs and organizations that helped them in their recovery process.
“By the time I was in high school everything seemed normal on the outside and I knew that is what I needed to maintain …

Written By: Rashetta Fairnot, Public Health Advisor, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
On Monday, July 9, we hosted a Recovery Month Twitter chat about “Access to Behavioral Health Care for Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families.” I was joined by our co-hosts: retired Navy Reserve Captain Kathryn Power, SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative Lead for Military Families and Regional Administrator from Region 1, and MSG Stephanie Weaver, National Guard Liaison to SAMHSA.  The conversation focused on military families and especially those service members recently returning home and their navigation of the behavioral health system. …

Written By: Jayme Marshall, Chief, Homeless Programs Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA
A life in recovery requires health, home, purpose, and community.  This blog entry focuses on the home dimension of recovery.
Providing services to people who have become homeless is expensive and exhausting work. For those who have this experience, either as a brief episode or a long-term nightmare, it is dangerous, unstable, and traumatizing. What would it take for us to prevent people from experiencing homelessness? What could we do better in our communities and as a country?
With the …