September is National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month, and this year’s theme is, “Recovery Benefits Everyone.” Locally, Chilton Medical Center has a special reason to celebrate since its detoxification program will recognize its second year of service Friday afternoon. On Sept. 16, former patients and their families, staff and volunteers will celebrate this second anniversary of hope and change.

Chilton Medical Center’s 4- to 7-day inpatient detoxification program provides patients 24-hour care while they detox from addictive drugs or alcohol. CMC’s social worker also assists patients in networking with community agencies, like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, outpatient counseling or inpatient substance abuse treatment upon discharge.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, for every dollar invested in treatment, taxpayers save at least $7.46 in costs to society. Less than 10 percent of substance abusers receive treatment even though they may want it.

According to the World Health Organization, worldwide, approximately 2.5 million people die each year due to alcohol use, and 5.3 million people have a drug dependence.

An addicted person may be your neighbor, coworker or anyone who did not realize they could not stop using a substance without help. Genetic factors account for 40 to 60 percent of one’s vulnerability to addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

An example of addiction would be one person’s being able to have an occasional drink, but the addict would continue to drink larger and larger quantities more often even if he did not want to continue to do it.

CMC provides free consultations and tours of the detox facilities. Anyone interested in seeking treatment, volunteering or contributing in some way to the program should call program director, Judy Dean, at (205) 755-2500.