September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month:
Mayor Peyton joins the Voices for Recovery.

Representatives of River Region Human Services with Mayor John Peyton at proclamation ceremony at City Hall on August 17th. From left to right: Kenneth Arnold, Mayor John Peyton, Gloria Hanania, Connie Sanders, Minerva Bryant, and Susan Cochran.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), drug use disorders cost American businesses over $100 billion in lost productivity per year. Alcohol dependence alone is estimated to cause 500 million lost workdays annually.

SAMHSA is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has been supporting National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month every September for the past eighteen years. The Recovery Month theme for 2007 is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Saving Lives, Saving Dollars.”

Minerva Bryant, V.P. of Clinical Operations for River Region Human Services, says, “Substance use disorders can take an enormous toll on productivity in the workforce and can have far-reaching consequences for families and communities, both emotionally and financially. Recovery Month reminds us of the importance of making treatment accessible. It is in everyone’s interest to support those who need help.”

During Recovery Month, communities across the country join together to help people recognize that substance use disorders are treatable. Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton has shown his support of Recovery Month by signing an official proclamation. The document reads, “I, John Peyton, do hereby proclaim September 2007 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in Jacksonville and urge all citizens to join me in observing this month.”

In Jacksonville, a Recovery Walk will be held on Saturday, September 8th. The event will begin at 8:00 a.m. at River Region’s offices at 390 Park St. Participants will walk to the Jacksonville Landing and back, approximately two miles round trip. For more information about the walk, call 899-6300, ext. 4444.

Other events related to Recovery Month are being planned. On September 27th, River Region will hold its Annual Dinner at the Omni Hotel in downtown Jacksonville. This year’s event will be a celebration of 35 years of service to the community.

Recovery Month flyers in pdf.

River Region has been serving Northeast Florida since 1972.
Administrative Offices 2055 Reyko Rd., Suite 101 Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-899-6300	Clinical Services 390 Park St. Jacksonville, FL 32204 904-899-6300
Some programs are funded in part by Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies, including the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nine programs accredited by CARF. Please report website problems to dmurphy@rrhs.org.