Recovery Month is held every
September as a national observance to educate Americans that substance
use treatment and mental health services can enable those with
substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. Now in its
31st year, Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those living in
recovery. This year's Recovery Month theme is "Celebrating
Connections."
Resolution 2018-C037 Call to
Respond to Opioid Epidemic calls on all dioceses and parishes in The
Episcopal Church to respond to the opioid epidemic with training,
pastoral care, advocacy, and liturgy. Central to this response are
partnerships with local responders and others in the medical community,
other faith communities and local recovery programs to offer pastoral
care to those affected by this epidemic, and with other faith leaders
to advocate with local and state government regarding policies and laws
to promote healing and wholeness for those affected by this epidemic.
The
diocesan Addictions & Recovery Commission is hosting a nationwide
online screening of SNO BABIES on Thursday, September 24. Click here to register. The film akin to testimony about how addiction can tear families apart. The
film screening is an opportunity to bring together the celebration of
Recovery Month and the Call to Respond to the Opioid Epidemic by the
Episcopal Church. SNO BABIES writer, Mike Walsh and director Bridget
Smith will take part in the screening.
The
film is difficult to watch, but crucial to see, as we are in a time
fraught with peril and knowledge is our best defense. Since opioid
addiction can start with a prescription from your doctor for very real
pain or from trying 'just one pill' from your parents' medicine
cabinet, it CAN happen to you. The proximity we all have to this danger
is the moral of SNO BABIES' story. In addition to the cautionary
tale, watching SNO BABIES secures funds for The Global Recovery
Initiatives Foundation, that provides assistance to those in recovery
to exponentially increase their chance at success.
For more information contact the Rev. Jan Brown, co-chair of the Addictions & Recovery Commission, jbrown@brutonparish.org.
