As an expert in the field of addiction recovery, I have witnessed the power of purple firsthand. This color, once designated as the official color of the addiction recovery movement in 1989, has become a symbol of courage, hope, and healing for those struggling with addiction. Every September, during National Recovery Month, purple ribbons, lights, and signs serve as visual cues to celebrate recovery and raise awareness about the impact of addiction on individuals and communities. But why purple? The answer lies in the history of National Recovery Month and the significance of different colored ribbons in raising awareness about addiction recovery. While the blue ribbon is widely recognized for its support for various causes related to addiction recovery, purple stands out as the official color of National Recovery Month.
This month, established in 1989, serves to recognize the ongoing fight against addiction and promote widespread awareness through various events such as races, community fairs, and support groups. Purple symbolizes not only recovery but also the path to healing. It represents public support for those overcoming addiction and serves as a reminder that recovery is possible. As you drive around your community during National Recovery Month, you may begin to notice the change: purple signs on businesses and civic groups, county celebrations and fireworks, and solemn walks in memory of those who have lost their lives to addiction. These events mark a significant reduction in the stigma surrounding addiction that has taken place in recent years due to this campaign. Purple lights in county buildings and stadiums, churches adorned with purple crowns - these are all visual signs honoring those who have made the courageous decision to recover.
They also serve to expand education and awareness about addiction and recovery. But purple is not just a color for National Recovery Month. It has also become a symbol of the addiction recovery movement as a whole. Antiseizure therapy and other manual 12-step recovery programs have shown higher rates of continuous abstinence for months and years compared to other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy. And while these programs may differ in their approaches, they all share the common goal of helping individuals achieve and maintain sobriety. One way that many of these programs recognize and celebrate sobriety is through the use of sobriety coins or chips.
These tokens serve as a physical reminder of an individual's commitment to maintaining their sobriety on a daily basis. While the concept of sobriety coins originated in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), they are now used in various recovery programs and are available in different colors, each representing a specific milestone on the journey to sobriety. For example, the yellow poker chip represents 60 days of continuous sobriety, while the purple chip represents one year. These chips not only serve as a reminder of an individual's progress but also as a source of motivation and inspiration to continue on their journey towards recovery.
