Dear Dr. Coyote, I understand that September is National Recovery Month. I have been clean and sober for 5 years and was wondering if you could give me more information about this observance.
Signed, Walking The Red Road
Dear Red Road,
Congratulations on maintaining your sobriety. Native Americans suffer high rates of addiction to drugs and alcohol. What you may not realize is that Native people also have high recovery rates once they have determined to turn their lives around. Recovery Month is a time to celebrate sobriety, support those in recovery and work together to fight the plague of drugs and alcohol that has devastated our communities. The theme for 2026 is “Recovery is REAL (Restoring Every Aspect of Life.)”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has stated that National Recovery Month is “to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.” SAMHSA’s website (https://www.samhsa.gov/recovery-month) provides a wide variety of information, support and research to assist in overcoming the problems associated with addiction.
Take some time this month to help promote recovery. Talk to someone who has become clean and sober and give them your encouragement for the hard work they are accomplishing. Alcohol and drugs have been a major genocidal factor in our community. National Recovery Month is the time to celebrate those who have beaten the odds and embraced a future without the impacts of drugs and alcohol.
Signed, Always Supportive,
Dr. Coyote
For more information please go to:
VIDEO: Raising Substance Abuse Awareness During Recovery Month
VIDEO: Indigenous Voices on Recovery
Historical trauma and substance use among American Indian people with current substance use problems
