Substance misuse is at an all-time high. In 2020, alcohol-related deaths rose 26%, claiming approximately 150,000 lives in the United States — almost 400 deaths per day — which is the highest rate recorded in at least 40 years.

It is National Recovery Month, a time to reflect on the roots of substance use disorders. Adolescents experimenting with drugs and alcohol might seem unstoppable judging by the numbers. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 10% of 12-year-olds, 50% of 15-year-olds, and 70% of 18-year-olds have tried alcohol. Half of all 18-year-olds have tried other illegal drugs.

Come celebrate National Recovery Month by learning from experts during our September speaker series. Click to view the schedule.

September is National Recovery Month. The National Institutes of Health estimates that over 20 million Americans have suffered from some form of substance use disorder (SUD). The understanding of the words “addiction” and “recovery” among clinicians and researchers has changed dramatically in the past 20 years, and approaches to treatment are following this knowledge.

Drinking alcohol can easily become a habit. A cocktail after work. A glass of wine with dinner. A few beers while watching the game. The new year is an excellent time to rethink that habit. Dry January – 31 days of sobriety – gives you the opportunity to experiment. You can quickly discover what happens to your body, mind, and spirit when alcohol is out of the picture.

The UAB Medicine Addiction Recovery Program provides expert care for people with substance use disorders. Delivered by a team of providers from several medical specialties, this care includes a variety of personalized treatment plans, support networks, and recovery paths. One such plan is the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), which allows patients to work and attend to other obligations of daily life while recovering.

The UAB Medicine Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) offers many ways of treating alcohol and substance use disorders. Its services include peer support, which provides additional assistance to people who are receiving clinical treatment for substance use disorders. Because peer recovery support specialists are in recovery from their own substance use disorders, they bring special insight and empathy to the challenges patients face.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused various levels of social isolation since the early stages of the outbreak. People recovering from addiction need therapies that rely on close social networks, so losing those connections can create obstacles to recovery. Fortunately, the UAB Medicine Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) found ways to adapt to the pandemic’s social restrictions.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re surrounded by images of idealized love: fragrant roses, luscious chocolates, and red-hot romance. But for those recovering from a substance use disorder, romantic love can be complicated. Relationships with partners or spouses may be bruised, broken, or a work in progress.

The New Year is full of possibilities and promises. We’ll eat more broccoli and stop using the treadmill as a coat rack. We’ll count to 10 when our spouse gets on our nerves. We’ll skip Starbucks and tuck that money away for a rainy day. We’ll flush the pills or pour the whiskey down the drain – for good.