September 2022: Recovery Month

WHEREAS, substance use disorder is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the individual and those around them. Substance use disorder is a brain disease due to the changes in the structure and function of the brain as a result of drug and alcohol misuse; and,

WHEREAS, the United States is amid an opioid epidemic, with opioid overdoses killing nearly 69,000 people in 2020. An opioid can be a prescription drug, or an illicit substance, such as heroin; and,

WHEREAS, use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription opioids, and illicit drugs is costly to our nation, exacting approximately 820.5 billion dollars annually, and growing, in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and health care; and,

WHEREAS, annually, illicit drug use costs the United States approximately 193 billion dollars, prescription opioids overdose and dependence costs approximately 78.5 billion dollars, tobacco use costs approximately 300 billion dollars, and excessive alcohol use costs the country approximately 249 billion dollars; and,

WHEREAS, in total, approximately 232 billion dollars in direct health care costs is associated with the use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription opioids and illicit drugs; and,

WHEREAS, in the long-term, substance use disorder may lead to mental and physical effects such as paranoia, psychosis, immune deficiencies, and organ damage that will require treatment to resolve; and,

WHEREAS, marijuana use is rising among young adults. Current marijuana use among young adults age 18 to 25 has increased from 19.0 percent in 2009 to 32.5 percent in 2020 and,

WHEREAS, in 2020 the majority of publicly funded substance abuse treatment admissions among youth aged 12 to 17 recorded marijuana as the primary substance of abuse and 50,000 (6.8 percent) of youth statewide age 12 to 17 reported current marijuana use; and,

WHEREAS, in 2020, 9.2 percent of veterans in Michigan had a substance use disorder in the past year; and,

WHEREAS, in 2020, over 1.4 million people in Michigan, age 12 and older, had used an illicit drug in the past month; and,

WHEREAS, in 2020, 754,000 individuals aged 12 and older in Michigan needed treatment for illicit substance or alcohol use — 8.9 percent of the population; and,

WHEREAS, in 2020, 281,000 individuals aged 12 and older needed treatment for illicit drug use but did not receive it; and 508,000 individuals aged 12 and older needed treatment for alcohol use but did not receive it; and,

WHEREAS, in 2020, 518,000 (8.0 percent) non-Hispanic White Michiganders needed treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use but did not receive it; 81,000 (7.3 percent) non-Hispanic Black Michiganders needed treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use but did not receive it; and 43,000 (10.5 percent) Hispanic Michiganders needed treatment for illicit drug of alcohol use but did not receive it; and,

WHEREAS, in 2020, opioids (including prescription and illicit opioids) were linked to 79 percent of drug overdose deaths in Michigan; and,

WHEREAS, in 2020, 2,738 overdose deaths in Michigan were recorded; and provisional data indicate 2,809 overdose deaths in 2021; and,

WHEREAS, like other chronic and relapsing diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, substance use disorder can be managed successfully; and,

WHEREAS, today, when individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders seek help, they are met with the knowledge and belief that anyone can recover and/or manage their conditions successfully; and,

WHEREAS, support for telehealth services has enabled thousands of Michiganders to engage safely in substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery support services that would have otherwise been inaccessible; and,

WHEREAS, initiation of Medication Assisted Treatment to individuals seeking medical help through Emergency Departments for accidental overdose and withdrawal from substances has been implemented in multiple hospital systems across the state; and,

WHEREAS, organizations across the state have distributed more than 185,000 doses of naloxone, and harm reduction services promote a pathway to safety and recovery for individuals and communities; and,

WHEREAS, a person’s treatment and recovery is built on his or her strengths, talents, coping abilities, resources, and inherent values. It addresses the whole person and their community, and is supported by peers, friends, and family members; and,

WHEREAS, during this month, we join with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and various community networks to celebrate recovery and raise awareness of recovery-oriented systems of care working to prevent and treat substance use disorders in our state;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 2022 as Recovery Month in Michigan.