Harford County Celebrates Recovery Month in September

Harford County government, businesses and community partners are joining forces to shine a light on recovery from addiction for National Recovery Month in September.

This year’s theme is “Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.” The theme reminds individuals with substance use disorder, those in recovery, and those who support them, that no one is alone in the journey through recovery. Everyone's journey is different, but we are all in this together.

Annual activities and some new ones are planned this year to remove stigmas about mental health and substance use disorder, share resources among local partners, and spread the word that treatment works.

To begin, County Executive Barry Glassman has ordered Harford County flags lowered from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, August 31 for International Overdose Awareness Day, in recognition of the many lives lost to overdose and addiction.

Starting September 1, businesses and citizens are invited to hang purple lights on their homes and businesses, reflecting the color of recovery, and everyone in Harford County is invited to wear purple on Friday, September 24.

Purple lights will also be displayed by Harford County government, the city of Havre de Grace, Harford County Health Department, University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Bel Air Police Department, Aberdeen Police Department, Havre de Grace Police Department, Maryland State Police barracks, Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS companies, and numerous other partners, businesses, and agencies.

Harford County agencies have also collaborated on a social media campaign that will run during the month of September. Posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will share moving stories of recovery, treatment resources, and recovery events.

Citizens should also keep an eye out for purple “Recovery Rocks!” in September. Hundreds of rocks, generously donated by Greenspring Nursery of Jarrettsville, will be hand-painted with inspirational messages by individuals in recovery and placed along trails and sidewalks. Painted rocks can also be picked up in front of the Harford County Department of Community Services office at 125 N. Main Street in Bel Air and placed around the county. Everyone is encouraged to take pictures of the rocks they find and post them on social media with the hashtag, #Harford4Recovery.

New to Recovery Month this year, many local restaurants will be offering non-alcoholic “mocktails” to raise awareness about recovery month and help individuals in recovery and those who prefer not to drink alcohol feel more included in restaurant settings.

The Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy is offering two events, free of charge, to honor individuals in recovery.

An evening of comedy with Dion Flynn, best known for his appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” is free and will be held at the Bel Air Armory from 7 – 9 p.m. on Friday, September 24. Mocktails and snacks will be available. Registration is required as seating is limited. To reserve your seat register by September 20 at https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/FormCenter/Community-Services-7/Comedy-Night-with-Dion-Flynn-355.

On Saturday, September 25 from 4:30 - 9:30 p.m. families are invited to “Good for the (Recovery) Soul” family movie night at Shamrock Park in Bel Air, featuring the Disney PIXAR movie, “Soul.” This free event is held in partnership with Ashley Treatment’s Adolescent Clubhouse.

“I am proud that Harford County has come together to offer these activities for National Recovery Month,” County Executive Glassman said. “We know that the isolation brought on by the pandemic has been especially hard on those in recovery, and our goal is to celebrate their sobriety. We also want to reach out to anyone who is still suffering to show them that help is available, and a wonderful life awaits them in recovery.”

More information about recovery month events is on the county government website at https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/2960/September-is-Recovery-Month.

Local resources for treatment, recovery, mental health, and prevention are on the website at www.harfordcountymd.gov/odcp.

If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center at 1-800-Next-Step.