September is National Recovery Month.
Luis Lopez, a chemical dependency counselor at Covenant Health, said he believes addiction is a disease.
“We also here at Covenant believe as addiction as a disease,” He said. “Addiction is a disease that affects a person holistically, affects a person physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially.”
“Drug addition is an epidemic, so it’s important to acknowledge people who are in recovery and to have a month for celebration of recovery,” he said.
There are some things that can hurt a person’s recovery, including not removing themselves from situations or relationships that are not conducive to their recovery, Lopez said.
He also said there are things that are beneficial to a person’s recovery. “Going to meetings, getting a sponsor, reading the literature, working the steps and then being of service to other people,” he said.
Lopez said by having a month about recovery, it can show there are options available to people who might need them.
“It’s important to acknowledge that recovery saves peoples lives, it doesnt just keep people from using substances, but it keeps people from losing their familiy, it keeps people from being incarcerated, it keeps people from developing long term chronic, physical illnesses, helps the community not to expend as many resources on active addiction.” Lopez said.
