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Each September, communities

across the country recognize and

celebrate recovery with opportu-

nities to learn more about sub-

stance abuse, mental health, and

the many paths to recovery.

This fall, Chester County is work-

ing with many partners to offer a

wide array of free community

activities throughout the month-

long observance. Please see page

4 for a complete calendar of

events for Recovery Month.

Now in its 26th year, Recovery

Month highlights the achieve-

ments of individuals who have

reclaimed their lives in long-term

recovery and honors the treat-

ment and recovery service pro-

viders who make recovery possi-

ble.

The 2015 Recovery Month cam-

paign, sponsored and supported

by the Substance Abuse and Men-

tal Health Services Administration

(SAMHSA), is “Join the Voices for

Recovery: Visible, Vocal, Valua-

ble!” It was selected to focus on

the value of peer support in the

recovery process.

According to SAMHSA’s 2013

National Survey on Drug Use and

Health, 43.8 million people

aged 18 or older

had a mental illness but, only 34.6

million received mental health

services. At the same time, of the

estimated 22.7 million individuals

aged 12 or older who needed

treatment for an illicit drug or

alcohol use problem in 2013,

only 2.5 million received sub-

stance use treatment at a special-

ty facility.

Learn more at local recovery

events this month and stay

updated by checking out the

Department of Human Services

FaceBook page in between news-

letter publications.

We regularly post information on

local events. Like the page for

notifications.

Recovery Works! A publication of Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services 601 Westtown Road, Suite 124, West Chester, PA 19380-0990 • 610-344-6620

Inside this issue...

Upcoming events 2

The Anonymous People Film 2

Recovery Corner — Kate Parsons 3

Activity Calendar for September 4

Sept. 2015 Fall Issue

Chester County Celebrates National Recovery Month

Welcome!

To kick off our 2015 National Recovery Month

observances, Chester County’s Department of

Drug and Alcohol Services is pleased to intro-

duce Recovery Works!, a free quarterly news-

letter aimed at keeping residents current on

local recovery events and activities, as well as

behavioral health trends and national news.

We hope you find the publication to be useful

and enjoyable!

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The Anonymous People is a feature documentary film about the 23.5 million Americans living in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

Unlike sensationalized stories from television or mass media that focus on scandals or unhealthy behaviors, The Anonymous People, directed by Greg Williams offers hope for the more than 23 million individuals who have drug or alcohol addiction through personal stories. In 88 minutes, the documentary tells stories through the voices of leaders, volunteers, corporate

executives, and celebrities as part of the new public re-covery movement that also respects the tradition of anonymity for those in recovery.

The Anonymous People was a collaborative project that upholds the belief that there are many pathways to re-covery. Find out more about the film and complimentary book, Many Faces, One Voice, written by Bud Mikhitarian, a key member of documentary team, at the website: http://manyfaces1voice.org/#top.

See calendar on page 4 for local viewings.

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Did you know? It can be cheaper to buy a bag of heroin than a pack of cigarettes.

While working at GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Kate

Parsons led programs, coordinated services, coached exec-

utives and traveled the world. Mid-way through her 34-year

career, she also began her recovery from substance abuse.

But that journey wasn’t, by far, the biggest challenge for

this corporate leader.

“In 2009 I had a major life change and hit a new bottom. An

emotional bottom,” recalled Parsons.

The upheaval that ended her marriage also brought up long

-buried trauma from her youth. The discovery was pivotal.

Not only did it provide insight to her past, it altered the tra-

jectory of her life.

She realized she needed a different kind of support system

and began to research. Her quest, she said, led her beyond

traditional “mutual aid” groups to Recovery Community

Centers. She had a vision to build a community and looked

into PA Recovery Organization-Achieving Community To-

gether (PRO-ACT).

The core of PRO-ACT’s principles are peer-driven and peer-

delivered, and acknowledge multiple pathways to recovery.

Parsons decided to change

careers, earning her certifi-

cate in Alcohol & Drug

Counseling at Villanova

University and her peer re-

covery certification from

the PA Certification board.

She also founded Chester

County’s PRO-ACT chapter

in 2014 and still volunteers

as the group’s chairperson.

Said Persons, “I hit bottom, thought I would drink again,

and decided to make a huge change. I don’t know where I

got the courage. Sometimes I don’t know where my next

check will come from, but I took a leap of faith.”

“Working on [the effects of] my trauma made me realize

that I needed to make changes to have my true authentic

life.”

Check out Parsons’ website: http://coachkateparsons.com/

Recovery Corner — Kate Parsons

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Published by Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol each quarter. 2015-16 issues: September, December, March, June Chester County Commissioners — Terence Farrell, Kathi Cozzone, Michelle Kichline Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services, 601 Westtown Road, Suite 124 West Chester, PA 19380-0990 Contact: Jamie Johnson, LPC, CAADC, Deputy Director— jajohnson@chesco.org

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) http://www.aa.org/

Narcotics Anonymous Meeting Schedule (NA) http//www.cleanacresna.org/meetings/

Health and Human Services Agencies http://www.referweb.net/chesco/

Al-Anon http://www.al-anon.org/

Al-a-Teen http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

Nar-Anon Family Groups http://nar-anon.org/naranon/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration www.samhsa.gov

Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services www.chesco.org/index.aspx?nid=216

PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=20800&parentname=objmgr&parentid=92&mode=2

Act 106 of 1989 http://www.pccyfs.org/2010_Spring_Conf/2010_Conf_Present/Thursday/T8-Act106'1989.pdf

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