The Alabama Department of Mental Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have partnered to create the Courage for All initiative, which focuses on awareness and treatment of opioid addiction.

Opioid addiction has reached epidemic numbers in Alabama and in the nation.

“The crisis affects us all,” Lynn Beshear, commissioner of the ADMH, said. “It’s going to take all our courage—together—to do something about opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose.”

A recently-launched Courage for All website provides online self-assessments for teens and adults to help determine potential problems. Helpline information, as well as information about addiction resources, are available on the site.

“There are low cost treatment options for those with substance abuse addiction in our state,” Beshear said. “We want to get the word out that recovery is possible with support and courage from family, friends and community substance abuse treatment providers.”

The Courage For ALL website (http://www.courageforall.com) is an outreach is made possible by an Alabama Opioid STR Grant provided by SAMHSA.

In addition, a 24/7 Hotline for support and resources is available at 1-844-307-1760.

September is Recovery Month. Locally, the South Central Mental Health Center plans a Recovery Resources Fair from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. next Thursday, Sept. 27, at Central Church of Christ on South Three Notch Street.