“There are people that care about you and want you to do well,” a 41-year-old Butler man named Ken C. said during an event held last weekend by Butler County Human Services’ Drug and Alcohol programs.

This is an important message to be delivered not only during National Recovery Month, an observance held every September, but every day, especially during the COVID-19 era, which has seen an uptick in the number of overdose deaths.

The Butler County Recovery Walk and Picnic was held Saturday at Butler Memorial Park, drawing residents for a walk, cookout, music, activities and games to allow attendees to celebrate those in recovery and those seeking it.

The concept of the event is that addiction is a complex disease, but those who overcome the struggles that come with recovery — which Ken C. called a “cumulative” process — can learn to love themselves.

A good goal for county and state leaders to consider this Recovery Month is finding ways to reverse trends that have gone in the wrong direction during the pandemic.

A recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that overdose deaths increased by 16% in Pennsylvania last year during the pandemic.

Although the state remained below the national average and the number of deaths was lower than the opioid epidemic’s peak years — particularly between 2014 and 2017 — it was bad news to see the number of overdose deaths increasing after several years of slight alleviation.

The increase was attributed to a variety of factors that aren’t surprising. Lockdowns and social distancing further isolated people who were already struggling with addiction, and treatment became harder to obtain during the pandemic.

And while COVID-19 appeared to be on the decline earlier this summer, the number of cases has risen once more due to the delta variant.

If COVID-19 continues to rage, it stands to reason that drug abuse issues caused by the pandemic won’t likely slow down either.

We’re glad to see events like the Recovery Walk take place in the county. It gives those suffering from addiction an opportunity to hear that they’re not alone, and that recovery is possible.

National Recovery Month is an important annual event, but providing services for those trying to overcome addiction should be a year-round priority. We hope to see more such events and related services, especially at a time when existing problems are exacerbated by this never-ending pandemic.

— NCD