September is National Recovery Month
“I’m one of 23 million people who are living in long-term recovery. It’s been 22 years for me.” –Carmel Cline
BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — September is National Recovery Month, meant to celebrate and raise awareness for mental health and addiction recovery. Carmel Cline spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Martin County Thursday about Recovery Month and her personal recovery journey.
“I’m one of 23 million people who are living in long-term recovery,” said Cline. “It’s been 22 years for me.”
Cline read from a statement about Recovery Month from Faces & Voices of Recovery. Faces & Voices mobilizes individuals in long-term recovery into recovery communities and organizations with the intent of demonstrating the attainability and importance of addiction recovery.
National Recovery Month was started in 1989 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) to raise awareness for recovery. In 2020, SAMSHA gave control over to Faces & Voices of Recovery, which is now responsible for sponsoring and organizing observances for the month. Events are organized each year by nationwide community organizers like Cline.
“For Martin County pre-COVID, the County Judge would sign a proclamation declaring September as Recovery Month for Martin County.”
Cline explained that this was no longer necessary as the President of the United States now signs a nationwide proclamation each year.
Martin County has also hosted recovery-themed baseball games in the past called “Swing for Recovery,” featuring amateur players in long-term recovery.
“It’s about having an event that’s drug-free to promote health and wellness,” said Cline. “We want to show that people can and do become productive members of society.”
Though plans were not explicitly announced, Cline advocated for a similar event this year, as well as educational activities surrounding harm-reduction and the newly reopened Needle Exchange Program.
Cline went on to share her journey through addiction and recovery. Before recovery, Cline and her husband were both addicted. Child Protective Services removed their 3-year-old son from their home, placing him with Cline’s mother.
“I didn’t get into recovery right away,” said Cline. “I kinda ran from that. I didn’t know anything about addiction or that my father’s alcoholism could follow me through my life or that I’d be prone to that disease myself.”
After spending time in jail, Cline finally decided to make a change. Cline credits her success to faith and prayer.
“I have been blessed beyond measure.”
“There’s many different pathways,” said Cline. “My pathway to recovery is faith-based.”
After spending several years in recovery, Cline shifted from being a negative influence to helping families and individuals impacted by addiction by working with CPS.
“You know what qualified me for the position I have now? I was a person in recovery, I was doing well, and I had prior experience with CPS,” said Cline.
“I was able to go to work alongside social workers. I’ve done that for 14 years … For 12 years, I was actively out doing home visits, showing people ‘you can do this and I can show you how. Recovery is possible for you.’
“I’ve been trying to help families heal. It’s a passion and I feel that it’s my purpose.”
Cline’s current position at CPS was initially funded by the University of Kentucky. The funding for the program has since gone away, but Cline was asked to stay on in her role.
In May, Cline received a degree in social work, allowing her to continue helping families from a new perspective. She currently volunteers as a social worker with the county attorney as she awaits a full-time position.