Brevard commissioners proclaim September 2025 as National Recovery Month; organizers outline Recovery Fest Sept. 13

The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 unanimously adopted a resolution proclaiming September 2025 as National Recovery Month and presented the resolution to organizers of the Brevard Recovery Fest.

Commissioner Atkinson introduced the resolution recognizing substance-use recovery as a treatable medical condition and thanking peer-support professionals, treatment providers, first responders, counselors and family members who support people in recovery. The resolution recognized community recovery events and efforts to reduce stigma around addiction and mental-health disorders.

Laura McCarthy, executive director and founder of Brevard Recovery Fest and a long-term person in recovery, accepted the resolution and described the Recovery Fest planned for Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Melbourne Auditorium. McCarthy said the event will feature more than 100 vendors, sponsors and donors; participating providers she named included Palm Point Behavioral Health, La Amistad, Central Florida Behavioral Hospital, University Behavioral Center, Space Coast Recovery and Recovery Connections of Central Florida. She also said two new recovery drop-in centers will open soon in Melbourne and Titusville.

The event will feature free services and family-friendly activities, McCarthy said, including mobile-response units, HIV/hepatitis C testing, teen-driving and flight simulators, food and inflatables. McCarthy credited community partners with distributing naloxone (Narcan) and recent reductions in fentanyl-poisoning deaths in Brevard.

Why it matters: formal recognition and outreach events aim to reduce stigma, connect residents to treatment and recovery-support services, and coordinate service providers and community partners.

Quotes:
"Recovery is possible. And that is probably our biggest message is that you too can recover and there is hope," Laura McCarthy said after the board adopted the proclamation.

Ending: Commissioners presented the resolution and encouraged residents to attend the free Recovery Fest on Sept. 13 at Melbourne Auditorium.