The Dept. of Human and Social Services (DHSS) has planned for this month, a series of activities to celebrate National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month which officially kicked off last Sunday with a special church service held at the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) in Fagaalu.

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has proclaimed September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month and he is urging everyone “to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities and ceremonies supporting this year’s theme - ‘Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out’.”

One of the planned activities will take place this Thursday, Sept. 11 to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the devastating 9/11 bombings in New York.

On that day, DHSS and its partners will participate in a ribbon-tying walk. The west side group will start from Fagaalu while the east siders will gather at Pago Pago, tying ribbons on utility poles from each direction, meeting up at the Suigaula ole Atuvasa Beach Park in Utulei.

The ribbons will be purple and yellow—purple to recognize everyone affected by National Recovery Month, and yellow to honor American Samoa’s Toa o Samoa, as well as the 34 local residents who died in the Sept. 29 earthquake/tsunami, and those they left behind.

A DHSS official explained that the ribbon tying activity is not only “to remember” but also to “pay tribute”.

Government agencies, departments and organizations who are partnering up with DHSS to carry out this month’s activities include the Office of Protection and Advocacy for the Disabled (OPAD), the VA Clinic, the Alliance for Strengthening Families, the Dept. of Youth and Women’s Affairs (DYWA), and the Dept. of Public Safety.

In his proclamation, Lolo explained that behavior health is an essential part of health and one’s overall wellness, and National Recovery Month has worked to improve the lives of those affected by mental and/or substance abuse disorders by raising awareness of these diseases and educating communities about the prevention, treatment, and recovery resources.

“Preventing and overcoming mental and/or substance use disorders is essential to achieving healthy lifestyles, both physically and emotionally. The focus of National Recovery Month this September is to celebrate the journey,” said Lolo.

He noted that in America, 2.3 million people 12 years old and older received specialty treatment for a substance abuse disorder and 31.6 million adults 18 years old and older received mental health services, revealing the nature of this public health problem.

“We must continue to reach the millions more who need help,” Lolo wrote. “To help more people achieve and sustain long-term recovery, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Department of Human and Social Services, and the community of American Samoa invite all residents of Tutuila and Manu’a to participate in National Recovery Month.”