BALDWIN, Ga. — The Baldwin City Council proclaimed September as National Recovery Month during Tuesday night’s meeting, recognizing individuals in recovery and efforts to support people affected by substance use and mental health challenges.
The proclamation was approved without objection.
Representatives of Self-Discovery 24 Inc. attended the meeting to discuss the organization’s work and promote awareness of recovery resources available in the community.
Self-Discovery 24 provides peer-based support, education and resources for people seeking recovery from substance use disorder and mental health challenges.
Boyd Canning, who spoke on behalf of the organization, shared his own experience with recovery.
“In February, I have six years clean off of any substance,” Canning told the council.
He said the organization’s representatives want to provide hope for people struggling with addiction and help break the stigma surrounding recovery.
“We’re in long-term recovery, and we want everybody to know that there is hope out there,” he said. “We want to be the voice.”
Canning said people in recovery often become known only through the consequences of addiction but can also become examples for others seeking help.
“We used to be the voice of the pictures and the names in the paper, but we want to be the voice for people that need hope and that need help,” he said.
Canning said addiction should not remain hidden or treated as something to be ashamed of.
“Our communities get stricken with this disease that we call addiction,” he said. “We want everybody to know that it’s not something that stays in the dark. It always comes to light, and it’s not something to be ashamed of.”
Self-Discovery 24 operates a recovery resource center in Habersham County and provides peer support and other services for people navigating recovery.
The organization also promotes multiple pathways to recovery and works to connect individuals and families with resources related to addiction, overdose prevention and mental health.
Canning invited the community to participate in Self-Discovery 24’s upcoming Together We Recover event and recovery bus tour, scheduled for Sept. 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Torch Greenspace, 800 Cannon Bridge Road in Demorest.
The free event will feature food, music, speakers and recovery resources and is open to the public.
Don’t miss what everyone in town is talking about.
Join 4,000+ locals and choose our free newsletter covering news, events and the stories shaping our region.
