September Is Recovery And Wellbriety Month

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed September 2026 as National Recovery and Wellbriety Month in Lincoln County, highlighting local efforts to address addiction, mental health, and intergenerational trauma – and tying that work to housing, youth support, and community education.

Commissioners approved the proclamation during their September 2 Board of Commissioners meeting. The resolution recognizes recovery as “an ongoing process of change where people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and work to reach their full potential,” and defines wellbriety as a culturally rooted approach that supports mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health while centering the community as a whole.

The proclamation credits local partners – including prevention coalitions, Lincoln County Public Health, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Phoenix Wellness Center, Reconnections Counseling, American Health Services, and others – for organizing events throughout September to “celebrate recovery and well-briety” and “encourage individuals and communities...to celebrate recovery, spread the word, and support community efforts.”

Events include the 18th Annual Walter Eckerson Jr. Hands Across the Bridge on Saturday, September 19 at 11:30 a.m. in Waldport, beginning at the L.C. Bay Interpretive Center parking lot on Northwest Spring Street. A recovery and wellbriety celebration will follow from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Waldport Community Center with speakers, food, tables, youth activities, and other activities.

Local wellbriety work rooted in tribal leadership

Speaking to commissioners, Phoenix Wellness Center representative Jennifer Metcalf described how wellbriety is practiced locally. Phoenix is a certified wellbriety organization and a certified culturally and linguistically specific services provider in Lincoln County, owned by enrolled Siletz Tribal members and staffed mostly by Tribal members.

“We honor Wellbriety at our organization every Wednesday,” Metcalf told commissioners, outlining a schedule that includes men’s talking circles, women’s talking circles, and traditional practices such as sweat lodges. “We focus on culture connection, the medicine wheel and sacred teachings, community support, [and] addressing generational trauma, which is huge.”

Metcalf described wellbriety as “wellness and sobriety put together,” and said the model itself has remained consistent while the movement has expanded rapidly in recent years.

“The model doesn’t change, but the mission and the movement has grown significantly in the last five years, even in the last three years,” she said, noting more Native organizations are adopting wellbriety approaches because they offer a holistic, culturally-grounded framework.

She also named housing and funding as ongoing barriers. “Systemically, the barrier, is funding support, funding, those types of things, especially housing,” Metcalf said. “You’re always going to hear it. People house you; they have a chance… You house them; they have stability to be able to engage in treatment, and therefore… there could be long-term success.”

Growing recovery community, focus on youth and families

Prevention and recovery coordinator Sara Herd told commissioners the county’s recovery community is growing “all the time” because “treatment works.” “I am so honored to get to come back another year and talk about National Recovery Month and Wellbriety Month,” Herd said.

“Our recovery community in Lincoln County is growing all the time because treatment works. There’s help… I think it’s a really good time to honor those who have achieved recovery and have worked a day or 30 years in staying in recovery.”

Herd emphasized prevention and early support for children and youth, describing a continuum that runs from maternal-child health through schools, behavioral health providers, and community organizations.

“Once a youth is in a place where they have become addicted… getting them to recovery is a community effort,” she said. “Providers are available. Treatment, again, of course, works, but it’s also creating those safe environments for them to thrive, giving them those caring adults that are going to help mentor them through, giving them safe places beyond the addiction.”

Herd pointed to child welfare, juvenile departments, schools, sports, arts, faith communities, and extended family as all playing roles. “It’s not just a treatment provider, it’s not just a family, but it extends beyond into the community,” she said. “There’s always more work to do… but there’s a lot of focus on our youth and helping them get to adulthood.”

Challenging stigma: “Addictions and diagnoses are not character flaws”

Commissioner Casey Miller pressed presenters on what is still not being said publicly about recovery and wellbriety. “What are we not saying that needs to be said around this space?” he asked.

Herd answered that people – especially youth – need to hear clearly that they are not alone and that help is available. “Maybe what we’re not saying enough is: come and talk about it. You’re not alone,” she said. “Talk to an adult that you trust, and let’s get you connected.”

Hurd also urged the community to reject shame-based narratives around addiction and mental health.

Commissioners Miller and Walter Chuck both encouraged residents to attend the Hands Across the Bridge event as a visible show of support. “Going to Hands Across the Bridge is a very powerful thing to do,” Miller said. “I recommend anybody out there do it.” The event will be held on September 19th at the Waldport Alsea Bay Interpretive Center starting at 11:30.

The Recovery and Wellbriety Month proclamation urges Lincoln County residents to “celebrate recovery, spread the word, and support community efforts” throughout September, including attending events, learning to recognize signs of substance use and mental health challenges, and helping connect friends and family to treatment and support.