WHEREAS, more than 22 million people in the United States faced a substance use disorder in 2006; and

WHEREAS, at least 180,000 Nevada residents have substance use disorders and only an estimated 34,000 have accessed our area’s treatment centers; and

WHEREAS, substance abuse treatment is cost effective, with some measurements showing a benefit-to-cost ratio of up to 7:1, and treatment reduces reported job problems, including incomplete work and absenteeism, by an average of 75 percent; and

WHEREAS, it is critical that we educate our community members and local businesses that substance use disorders are a treatable, yet serious health care problem; and

WHEREAS, by eliminating present cost and insurance barriers obstacles to those who need access to treatment facilities and want to re-establish their place in the community, present substance abusers can experience the many benefits of recovery; and

WHEREAS, to help achieve this goal, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Mental Health and Developmental Services Division, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency; Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies; Nevada Alliance for Addictive Disorders, Advocacy, Prevention and Treatment Services; Join Together Northern Nevada; Bristlecone Family Resources; Family Counseling Services; Ridge House; Step 2; The Launching Pad; Quest Counseling and Consulting; Nevada Hispanic Services; Reno Sparks Indian Colony; BEST Coalition; Bridge Counseling Associates; Center for Independent Living; Community Counseling Center Las Vegas; Family and Child Treatment; Healthy Communities Coalition; Las Vegas Indian Center; Lyon County Council on Substance Abuse; Nevada Treatment Center; New Frontier; Salvation Army; Sierra Recovery Center; UNLV Department of Counselor Education; Goshen Coalition; and Westcare Nevada invite all residents of Nevada to participate in National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month); and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR0, OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2008, as,