National Women Touched By Addiction Day
National Women Touched By Addiction Day is an annual observance dedicated to recognizing women who have faced addiction firsthand or have felt its effects through others. This day celebrates the resilience of women grappling with addiction and aims to remove stigma, create understanding through education, and encourage healing to build resilience.
Quick Facts
- When is it?: July 23rd annually
- Tagged as: Awareness day for women affected by addiction
- What’s the hashtag?: #WTBAday, #OneFingerOneFamily, #raiseafingertoremovethestigma, #liftafinger
- When was it founded?: March 2021
- Who founded it?: Mending Hearts, a Nashville-based non-profit organization
History of National Women Touched By Addiction Day
National Women Touched By Addiction Day was established by Mending Hearts, a non-profit organization based in Nashville, Tennessee. The first observance was organized in 2021, making it a relatively new but significant awareness day. The movement was created not just as a day of recognition but as a much-needed initiative to address the unique challenges women face with addiction.
The day acknowledges that women of all races and socio-economic backgrounds may struggle with addiction and often face reluctance to seek help due to stigma. It recognizes that addiction affects women differently than men, and there are specific social ramifications that require attention and understanding.
Timeline
- 1800s: The earliest modern research on addiction, specifically morphine, is conducted in the UK
- Mid-1900s: After numerous research initiatives, organizations begin to recognize addiction as a mental illness
- 2010s: The opioid crisis in the US claims thousands of lives, highlighting addiction as a national health emergency
- 2021: Nashville-based organization Mending Hearts organizes the first National Women Touched By Addiction Day
Dates by Next Year (2025 to 2030)
| Year | Month and Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | July 23 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | July 23 | Thursday |
| 2027 | July 23 | Friday |
| 2028 | July 23 | Sunday |
| 2029 | July 23 | Monday |
| 2030 | July 23 | Tuesday |
How National Women Touched By Addiction Day is Observed
People observe this day by wearing purple to raise awareness. Many participate in the social media campaign by sharing a photo holding up one finger to show they’ve been touched by addiction, using hashtags like #WTBAday and #OneFingerOneFamily.
Communities organize events and charity initiatives to provide help to women affected by addiction. In Nashville, events have been held on the John Seigenthaler Bridge featuring speakers, food, music, and community support.
Volunteering with local recovery programs, reaching out to women affected by addiction, and educating oneself about the issue are also meaningful ways to observe the day.
Fun Facts About National Women Touched By Addiction Day
The movement uses the simple gesture of lifting one finger to symbolize support for the entire community of women affected by addiction. This powerful visual statement helps create unity and shows women they are not alone in their struggles.
The Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research has partnered with Mending Hearts to provide education about the science behind substance abuse disorders and how they specifically affect women.
In 2021, the author of “Orange is the New Black,” Piper Kerman, participated in a discussion hosted by the Vanderbilt School of Medicine about the intersection of incarceration, societal reentry, and addiction, highlighting the day’s importance.
Quiz
- When is National Women Touched By Addiction Day celebrated?
- What color do people wear to show support on this day?
- What gesture is used in social media campaigns for this day?
- Who founded National Women Touched By Addiction Day?
(Answers: 1. July 23rd, 2. Purple, 3. Lifting one finger, 4. Mending Hearts)
FAQs
Q: Who is National Women Touched By Addiction Day for?
A: This day is for not just women who have struggled with addiction firsthand but also for any woman who has felt the effects of addiction through others, such as family members or friends.
Q: How can I support someone affected by addiction?
A: You can show support by listening without judgment, encouraging treatment, learning about addiction, and connecting them with resources like SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).
Q: Why is there a specific day focused on women and addiction?
A: Women face unique challenges with addiction, including different physical responses to substances, higher rates of trauma connection to substance use, and greater stigma. This day recognizes these differences and promotes understanding and support.
Importance of National Women Touched By Addiction Day
National Women Touched By Addiction Day is important because it addresses a critical social issue that affects countless women and their communities. The day helps create awareness about the unique ways addiction impacts women and works to end the stigma that often prevents women from seeking help.
By promoting education about addiction as a mental health disorder rather than a moral failing, the day helps change public perception and encourages more compassionate approaches to treatment and recovery.
The day also provides a platform for women to share their stories, creating a sense of community and showing others they are not alone in their struggles, which can be a powerful motivator for seeking help and maintaining recovery.
Related
- National Recovery Month (September)
- International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31)
- Mental Health Awareness Month (May)
- World Mental Health Day (October 10)
- National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (September)