Athens, Ga. – The School of Social Work at the University of Georgia has launched RecoveryAthens.org, a web-based initiative by social work students to offer information and support to individuals with addictions in the UGA and Athens community.
“RecoveryAthens.org contains screening tools that may help people to see if they have a problem,” said Donna Bliss, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, whose graduate students in the class “Clinical Practice with Addictive Disorders” developed the website. “There is also information about treatment options in the area and information for professionals,” she said.
Bliss and her students hope RecoveryAthens.org will help educate people about the problems that substance abuse disorders are associated with in the community including poverty, crime, homelessness and dropping out of school. “We want to bring this connection to light and show ways that the community can respond proactively to substance abuse problems. We also want to highlight the message that recovery is possible,” said Bliss.
The site is being launched in September to coincide with the 18th annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, which is a nationwide observance promoting the personal and societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment and to applaud the contributions of treatment providers. Recovery Month is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In a welcome statement on the RecoveryAthens.org site, Athens-Clarke County Mayor Heidi Davison thanks the UGA social work students “who are reaching out with hope and resources to those in Athens-Clarke County who are battling substance abuse. It is my sincere hope that all citizens are able to realize their full potential and, in so doing, create happy and meaningful lives for themselves.”
The website can be seen at http://www.recoveryathens.org/
