CHAMBERSBURG – The Franklin County Commissioners have proclaimed September to be National Recovery Month in Franklin County. In doing so, the commissioners are encouraging residents to support those on their journey to recovery while also highlighting the services available to individuals who are struggling with substance use disorders.
Now in its 34th year, National Recovery Month underscores that recovery is an essential part of health and overall wellness. The theme “Recovery is For Everyone: Every Person, Every Family and Every Community” emphasizes that Americans can and do recover every day. National data suggests that 9% of the American adult population is living in recovery. Based on that statistic, over 11,000 Franklin County residents are estimated to be recovering from a substance use disorder.
National Recovery Month also encourages communities to recognize and celebrate individuals and families in long-term recovery as a way to eliminate the stigma associated with substance use and mental health disorders.
“Recovery is a lifelong journey, and it is a process that transforms individuals and the communities in which they live,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller. “We offer our encouragement to those in recovery as well as our thanks to everyone who supports these individuals in living healthy, rewarding lives.”
By declaring September to be National Recovery Month in Franklin County, the commissioners are urging residents to increase their knowledge of how Franklin County residents can seek help through treatment services available within their own communities. Those services, available through Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol, can assist those affected by mental health and substance use disorders in living healthy lifestyles.
For more information on available services, contact Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol at 717-263-1256 or ffda@franklincountypa.gov. Information is also available by visiting the Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol page at www.franklincountypa.gov. Individuals seeking immediate help for themselves or for someone they know should call PA Get Help Now at 800-662-4357.
Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol and other community partners are highlighting National Recovery Month and their efforts to promote a unified response to substance use through a variety of community events and activities in September. Some of those events include:
- Home Run Derby to Fight Drug Addiction in Franklin County, will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 at Norlo Park, Fayetteville, to benefit Noah’s House.
- “Epidemic,” a special art installation created by Wilson College art professor Adam DelMarcelle, highlights the opioid epidemic by fusing art with harm reduction education. The installation will be on display Sept. 11-Sept. 23 in the Ceddia Union Building on the Shippensburg University campus.
- Rock for Recovery, a free community event in celebration of Recovery Month, will be held from 2-5 p.m. Sept. 16 at Main Street Park, Waynesboro.
- Three performances of “The Shadow That Broke The Light,” a one-person show that showcases the crisis and costs of the opioid epidemic on American families, will be held Sept. 22-23 at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, Shippensburg University.
