Wellness, Remembrance, and the Unshakable Hope of Recovery

August brings with it two deeply meaningful observances: International Wellness Month and International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st. Together, they call us to recognize the importance of caring for the whole person while also holding space for grief, remembrance, and the unwavering belief that recovery is not just possible—it’s inevitable with the right support, connection, and grace.

Wellness: A Foundation for Recovery

At Rise Up Recovery, we know that wellness is not just about diet and exercise—it’s about restoring wholeness in every area of life:

• Physical wellness through caring for our bodies with respect and intention

• Emotional wellness through learning to name, feel, and process our emotions

• Spiritual wellness through reconnecting with God and discovering our true identity

• Relational wellness through restoring trust and building healthy, supportive communities

As 3 John 1:2 says:

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

We believe that wellness is a deep need—not simply a reward—and that every person deserves access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities that allow healing to take root.

International Overdose Awareness Day – August 31

On the final day of this month, we observe International Overdose Awareness Day, a solemn moment to remember the lives lost to overdose and to stand in support of those who carry the weight of grief.

We pause to honor:

• The sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters whose lives

  were cut short

• The families and friends left behind, who mourn with empty chairs at their tables

• The survivors, who carry the trauma of loss and the courage to keep going

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

Though this day is marked with sorrow, it is also lit with hope. Hope that every life still struggling can find freedom. Hope that every overdose can be prevented. Hope that every story can be rewritten.

The Promise of Recovery

At Rise Up Recovery, we proclaim boldly: Recovery is not only possible—it’s probable when people are met with compassion, equipped with resources, and surrounded by a supportive community. Every day, we witness lives transformed—people rising from darkness into light, from despair into purpose, and from addiction into the arms of a God who redeems.

This month, as we honor both wellness and remembrance, we also recommit to the mission:

• To provide free Naloxone and overdose prevention education

• To expand peer recovery support

• To create safe, dignified spaces where healing can happen

Let This Be the Month of Both Mourning and Movement

Let us grieve the lives we’ve lost—and fight harder for those still here. Let us care for ourselves and each other as acts of sacred resistance. Let us lift our voices in remembrance and raise our hands in service.

And let us hold to the truth that no one is too far gone for redemption, too broken for healing, or too lost to be found.

With compassion, conviction, and hope,

The Rise Up Recovery Team

Redeeming Lives; Restoring Dignity.