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Supporting Somerville Overcoming Addiction and other community groups by resolving that September, 2014, shall be Recovery Month in Somerville.
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WHEREAS, Behavioral health is an essential part of health and one’s overall wellness; and
WHEREAS, Prevention of mental and/or substance use disorders works, treatment is effective, and people recover in our area and around the nation; and
WHEREAS, Preventing and overcoming mental and/or substance use disorders is valuable to individuals, families, and the community at large; and
WHEREAS, Increasing awareness about the stigma of addiction reduces barriers to accessing treatment and support for recovery; and
WHEREAS, People in recovery achieve healthy lifestyles, both physically and emotionally, and contribute in positive ways to their communities; and
WHEREAS, We must encourage relatives and friends of people with mental and/or substance use disorders to implement preventive measures, recognize the signs of a problem, and guide those in need to appropriate treatment and recovery support services; and
WHEREAS, In the 2013 National Survey of Drug Use and Health it was reported that 23.9 million Americans aged 12 or older were current (in the past month) illicit drug users - (9.2 percent of the population 12 and older) and the use of heroin rose significantly in recent years; and
WHEREAS, Given the serious nature of this public health problem, we must continue to reach the millions who need help recovering from addiction to substance use; and
WHEREAS, Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment and recovery for substance use and mental disorders, celebrates people in recovery, and lauds the contributions of treatment and service providers and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible, and
WHEREAS, The Somerville Fire Department and Somerville Police Department have joined these efforts and have begun carrying Naloxone as a method to reduce the number of fatal opioid overdoses; and
WHEREAS, Somerville Overcoming Addition and other community groups have organized the first annual Candlelight Memorial Vigil, to take place on Monday, September 8, 2014, at 6:30 pm, at the Somerville High School Atrium, at which the names of those lost to recovery will be read and our community will join together in supporting those struggling against addiction; and
WHEREAS, To help more people achieve and sustain long-term recovery, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Somerville community groups committed to recovery work and the City of Somerville invite all residents of Somerville to participation in National Recovery Month; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, That we, the Somerville Board of Aldermen, do hereby resolve that the month of September 2014 shall be Recovery Month in Somerville and call upon the people of Somerville to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities and ceremonies to support this year’s Recovery Month.