September is National Recovery Month — a monthlong observance in the United States that promotes recovery from addiction, supports treatment and celebrates the 22 million people in recovery in the U.S. Each year, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) commemorates this month by hosting events that celebrate recovery and promote better access to treatment and prevention.
Surviving an overdose is a chance for recovery. Each year, naloxone saves the lives of thousands of Americans from fatal opioid overdoses, allowing many to begin their recovery journey. On September 20, to raise awareness about naloxone and its lifesaving potential, GHAI hosted the third Annual Congressional Naloxone Training in collaboration with the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force and the Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus. The training taught participants to know the signs of an opioid overdose and how to administer naloxone.
Overall, more than fifty congressional staffers attended the training, which was facilitated by students from the Georgetown University Medical School. A bipartisan group of four Members of Congress gave remarks on the importance of naloxone and overdose prevention.
Educating congressional offices on critical overdose prevention efforts, like naloxone distribution, is key to GHAI’s federal advocacy strategy. Working with groups like Faces and Voices of Recovery, a leading non-profit recovery advocacy organization, allow us to amplify our efforts. This month, GHAI had the opportunity to discuss our strategies for congressional advocacy on Faces and Voices of Recovery’s new podcast, Recovery Stories Have Power. In the discussion, GHAI’s Overdose Prevention Initiative Program Director Libby Jones reflected on lessons she’s learned for effective advocacy and shared her insights on the urgent need for effective policies to combat overdose in the U.S.
For the GHAI team, National Recovery Month is not only about training others on how to respond, but also a time to reflect on the ways each of us can do our part to turn the tide in the overdose crisis. This month, we coordinated a naloxone training for our headquarters in Washington, DC, facilitated by the DC Department of Behavioral Health. We collected clothing for the DC Stabilization Center (DCSC), a safe location where people experiencing a substance use disorder crisis can get the help they need. And we joined hundreds of advocates in a public display of support by participating in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Walk for Recovery.
At GHAI, we believe that comprehensive support for substance use disorder is within reach, and by advancing federal policies that address the disparities, inequities and stigma in the treatment system, we can make a difference in the lives of people across the U.S. and prevent overdose deaths. Throughout National Recovery Month, GHAI reconfirmed our commitment to advancing policies that prevent overdose and encourage recovery.
Every International Overdose Awareness Day, communities around the world come together to remember the people who died from overdose, support the families, friends and communities living with that loss, and take action to prevent future deaths.
In my work, I have seen firsthand what is possible when people can access the support they need and what happens when those supports are out of reach.
Remembrance matters. But remembrance alone will not prevent the next overdose.
Congress will spend much of August closer to home while fiscal year 2027 funding remains unsettled. Lawmakers still have major choices to make about the programs, research, workforce and public health systems communities rely on. During the House and Senate work periods, many members return to the states and districts they represent. For public health advocates, August is not a pause in the policy process. It is a chance to bring a clear request to the people who will pass a vote.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule explaining how states must implement this new community engagement requirement. The requirement is the policy created by Congress. The CMS rule provides the framework states will use to determine who is affected, identify and verify exemptions and decide whether someone can enroll in or keep Medicaid coverage. The Global Health Advocacy Incubator’s (GHAI) Overdose Prevention Initiative submitted comments urging CMS to strengthen protections for people with substance use disorders.
