Recovery Month in Our Communities
September 1, 2025
Recovery Is Possible: How Local Communities Are Supporting Healing This September
September is National Recovery Month, a time to raise awareness about substance use, honor the resilience of people in recovery, and highlight the critical role of community support. For the Middlesex-Essex Public Health Collaborative (MEPHC), recovery isn’t just a campaign, it’s a year-round priority.
Why Recovery Month Matters
Substance use affects every community, and so does recovery.
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Over 20 million Americans are in recovery from substance use disorders.
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In Massachusetts, opioid overdoses remain a leading cause of injury-related death.
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Despite these challenges, treatment works and recovery happens every day, especially when communities come together to offer support without judgment.
Stigma remains a major barrier to healing. Language like “addict” or “clean” can discourage people from seeking help. That’s why we’re committed to using respectful, person-first language and creating environments where everyone feels safe accessing care.
Local Action: MEPHC’s Opioid Workgroup
MEPHC facilitates a regional Opioid Workgroup that meets quarterly to align local efforts across six communities. This includes:
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Sharing public health data and local overdose trends
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Coordinating use of opioid settlement funds
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Discussing best practices in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery
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Collaborating with public safety, clinicians, recovery coaches, and community members
By meeting regularly, we ensure that local knowledge drives local solutions and that we’re not working in silos.
Resources You Can Share
Whether you’re someone in recovery, supporting a loved one, or working in the public health field, here are trusted places to turn:
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Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline – 24/7 phone/text/chat support
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Learn to Cope – Peer support for families
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MOAR (Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery) – Peer-led advocacy and support
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Mass.gov: Opioid Overdose Prevention Information – State-level services, data, and harm reduction tools
- RIZE Massachusetts - Nonprofit foundation working to end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts
You don’t need to know exactly what to ask, just start the conversation.
How You Can Help
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Share this post or repost one of our LinkedIn updates.
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Challenge stigma by choosing language that respects people in recovery.
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Ask your local leaders how opioid settlement dollars are being used and advocate for evidence-based solutions.
- Below are some images you can share on your social media to spread awareness in September and share free resources to your followers!
Learn More About MEPHC
The Middlesex-Essex Public Health Collaborative (MEPHC) is a regional coalition working to advance public health infrastructure, promote community wellbeing, and tackle issues like substance use, emergency preparedness, and equitable access to public health services. Learn more here on our website!
Recovery is real. Recovery is local. Recovery is stronger when we show up together.
Let’s keep showing up.
Below are some Recovery Month images you can share!
Click on the image to download.
