September 01, 2026
WHEREAS, addiction is a treatable, chronic medical condition affected by factors like genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People suffering from addiction often use substances or engage in compulsive behaviors despite harmful consequences; and,
WHEREAS, the United States is experiencing an opioid epidemic, with opioid overdoses killing nearly 54,000 people in 2024. Preliminary 2025 data reports a nearly 17% decrease to about 45,000 overdose deaths. An opioid can be a prescription drug or an illicit substance, such as heroin; and,
WHEREAS, opioid use disorders cost Americans more than $2.7 trillion in 2023 due to crime, lost work productivity, and health care; 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, in 2024, nearly 1 in 3, or 315,000, young adults ages 18 to 25 reported current use of marijuana in Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, in 2024, most publicly funded substance abuse treatment admissions among youth ages 12 to 17 reported marijuana as the primary substance of use and 53,000 (7%) youth statewide ages 12 to 17 reported current marijuana use; and,
WHEREAS, in 2024, 15.4% of Michigan veterans were identified as having a substance use disorder within the previous year; and,
WHEREAS, in 2024, nearly 1 in 5 (or 1.87 million) people ages 12 and older in Michigan used illicit drugs in the previous month when surveyed; and,
WHEREAS, in 2024, more than 1.5 million individuals ages 12 and older in Michigan met the criteria for having a substance use disorder, which is17.4% of the population; and,
WHEREAS, in 2024, nearly 1.6 million (18.5%) individuals ages 12 and older were classified as needing substance use treatment; and 1.33 million (83.2%) did not receive the needed treatment; and,
WHEREAS, in 2024, 1,938 drug overdose deaths in Michigan were recorded and 69% were related to opioids. Preliminary data shows 1,733 overdose deaths in 2025, a 10.6% decrease from 2024; and,
WHEREAS, like other chronic and recurring diseases, such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease, substance use disorder can be managed successfully; and,
WHEREAS, support for telehealth services has enabled thousands of Michiganders residents to engage safely in substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery support services that would have otherwise been inaccessible; and,
WHEREAS, organizations across the state have distributed more than 1.8 million doses of naloxone since 2020, and harm reduction services continue to promote a pathway to safety and recovery for individuals and communities; and,
WHEREAS, a person’s treatment and recovery are built on their strengths, talents, coping abilities, resources and inherent values. They address the whole person and their community, and are 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 2026 as Recovery Month in Michigan.
