A RESOLUTION

 

1Recognizing the month of September 2014 as "National Recovery
2Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, The year 2014 marks the 25th annual observance of
4National Recovery Month to promote the benefits of prevention,
5treatment and recovery for mental and substance use disorders;
6and

7WHEREAS, The United States Department of Health and Human
8Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
9Administration, the White House Office of National Drug Control
10Policy and the Commonwealth invite all residents of our
11communities to participate in National Recovery Month
12observances; and

13WHEREAS, Behavioral health is an essential part of individual
14overall wellness with serious implications for society and
15communities; and

16WHEREAS, The 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

1estimates that one in 25 adults in this Commonwealth suffers
2from serious mental illness and one in five between 18 years of
3age and 25 years of age uses illicit drugs; and

4WHEREAS, National Recovery Month spreads the positive message
5that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that
6prevention works, that treatment is effective and that people
7can recover from mental illness and substance abuse; and

8WHEREAS, The theme of National Recovery Month 2014 is "Join
9the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out" to encourage
10people to speak openly about substance use and mental disorders
11and the realities of recovery, and to promote means by which
12individuals can recognize behavioral health issues and reach out
13for help; therefore be it

14RESOLVED, The Senate encourage relatives and friends of
15affected individuals to implement preventive measures, recognize
16the signs of a problem and guide those in need to appropriate
17treatment and recovery support services; and be it further

18RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of September
192014 as "National Recovery Month" in Pennsylvania and urge
20support for this observance.