Celebrating Recovery: International Recovery Month

“Sobriety was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Jamie Lee Curtis, and I couldn’t agree more. This September, I get to celebrate 18 years of my own recovery with fellow travellers from across the globe. It’s our time to shout from the rooftops, “Recovery is possible!” and share our collective hope and experience.

Recovery Month, which started back in 1989, raises awareness about addiction, smashes stigma, and celebrates the fact that ‘recovery is possible’. Supported by peers, communities, and dedicated service providers, people around the world come together to prove that change is real and achievable.

Recovery isn’t just about quitting substances – it’s a whole new way of thinking and living. It began for me by letting go of the behaviours and substances I used to self-soothe and replacing them with healthy connection and meaningful purpose which led to a true sense of belonging.

The paths to recovery are as varied as the people walking them. Whether it’s reaching out to anonymous helplines, visiting your GP, or engaging with local treatment services, there is support out there.

From 12-step fellowships that cater to all types of dependency, to support groups for families affected by a loved one’s addiction, no one has to walk this journey alone. SMART Recovery is another organisation that helps people decide if they have a problem, build motivation to change, and provides tools to support their journey.

Faces and Voices of Recovery UK (Favor UK), is the leading lived experience organisation that’s saving lives by raising awareness about the link between trauma and substance use, advocating for fair funding of treatment services, and amplifying voices in public policy.

They also bring communities together for their inspiring National Recovery Walks, a beacon of hope for so many. This year I’ll be putting my best foot forward in Crystal Palace, London, on September 14th. Check out their website for events around the country.

And if you’re a film lover like me, the Recovery Street Film Festival is the absolute highlight of Recovery Month. I’ve been lucky enough to have two of my films selected and have had the privilege of helping others bring their stories to life. For over 10 years, this festival has given amateur filmmakers with lived experience a platform to show the world their truth – shining a light on the stigma, pain, and challenges of addiction, but also the resilience, strength, and hope that recovery brings. It’s grown into a national phenomenon, with over a million views, and this year it’s taking place in Sheffield. Don’t miss it – their website has all the details.

Addiction, mental health struggles, and trauma touch us all – whether it’s our own journey or the experiences of loved ones, colleagues, or communities. This September, join us in celebrating International Recovery Month. Let’s create a world of empathy, understanding, and unity. Together, we can amplify hope, healing, and harmony.

Useful resources:

• Alcohol Change
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Smart Recovery
• UKNA
• Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire
• Nacoa
• WithYou
• Adfam

Biography

Maddie Kitchen FRSA is a lived experience filmmaker who runs Sobriety Films UK, a social enterprise that uses film to empower and facilitate healing from addiction, mental ill health and trauma. Her work encompasses creative visual arts based workshops with participants in recovery which she has provided for NWL ICS, Rethink Mental Illness, CGL, Turning Point and Phoenix Futures. Maddie has produced films for the NHS Addictions Provider Alliance Conference, and Navigo Health & Social Care CIC (NHS North East Lincolnshire).