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Michigan Features Michigan Residents in New Video about Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder Recovery

For Immediate Release: September 29, 2014

LANSING, Mich. – To highlight September as Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in Michigan, as proclaimed by Gov. Rick Snyder, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) today announced the release of a new mental health and substance use disorder recovery video that features two Michigan residents and delivers the important message that recovery is possible.

“Recovery is a process that requires support throughout a lifetime and that the treatment that is available is effective,” said Nick Lyon, Director of the MDCH. “This video, and in particular, the two residents who are willing to share their stories, shows that individuals with mental health or substance use disorders can and do recover to lead successful, happy, and fulfilling lives.”   

The video, Story of Hope, tells the stories of two people sharing their personal paths to recovery in an effort to reduce stigma and inspire others affected by mental health and substance use disorders. MDCH encourages all residents to help spread this important, potentially lifesaving message by viewing and sharing the video available now on the MDCH YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/michigandch

Production of the video was funded by a 2012 Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale-Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS-TACS) award. Michigan was one of eight states to receive the grant, and MDCH’s Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities Administration (BHDDA) led the project to unite voices of recovery for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.

Addiction can be devastating to individuals, families, and communities. While addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease, alcoholism and addiction are treatable and can be managed successfully. Last year, Michigan’s substance use disorder treatment system served more than 62,000 people, 54 percent of which had a concurrent mental health disorder. More than 250,000 people attended state-funded substance abuse prevention programs.

For more information about recovery programs in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/odcp. To view the Story of Hope and other recovery stories, visit the MDCH YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/michigandch.

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