By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend Post

The Barton County Commission&nbsp;passed a proclamation on Tuesday declaring September to be National Recovery Month.&nbsp;They took the action after hearing the proclamation read by several members of Rise Up Central Kansas, a group&nbsp;that was formed in 2018 to help&nbsp;people dealing with substance abuse.&nbsp;

Commissioner Barb&nbsp;Esfeld&nbsp;praised the group for the work they are doing.&nbsp;

"What sobriety does is put families back together and save lives because without it you see&nbsp;loss every day from overdose,”&nbsp;Esfeld&nbsp;said. “That is families losing&nbsp;their&nbsp;parents, brothers, sisters.&nbsp;So&nbsp;what they are doing is huge. It’s&nbsp;more than we can even imagine. I just wanted to tell them thank you for&nbsp;all their hard work, and thanks for being here today.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Central Kansas Community Correction Director Amy Boxberger also praised the members of Rise Up. She told&nbsp;the Commissioners that&nbsp;substance misuse costs Americans $740 billion a year in health care costs, lost productivity and criminal justice costs.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631727659097.jpeg" alt="Members of Rise Up Barton County pose for a photo with Barton County Commissioners and substance abuse professionals on Sept. 14, 2021." />
 <figcaption>Members of Rise Up Barton County pose for a photo with Barton County Commissioners and substance abuse professionals on Sept. 14, 2021.</figcaption>
 </figure>By KEN CARPENTER Great Bend PostThe Barton County Commission&nbsp;passed a proclamation on Tuesday declaring September to be National Recovery Month.&nbsp;They took the action after hearing the proclamation read by several members of Rise Up Central Kansas, a group&nbsp;that was formed in 2018 to help&nbsp;people dealing with substance abuse.&nbsp;Commissioner Barb&nbsp;Esfeld&nbsp;praised the group for the work they are doing.&nbsp;"What sobriety does is put families back together and save lives because without it you see&nbsp;loss every day from overdose,”&nbsp;Esfeld&nbsp;said. “That is families losing&nbsp;their&nbsp;parents, brothers, sisters.&nbsp;So&nbsp;what they are doing is huge. It’s&nbsp;more than we can even imagine. I just wanted to tell them thank you for&nbsp;all their hard work, and thanks for being here today.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Central Kansas Community Correction Director Amy Boxberger also praised the members of Rise Up. She told&nbsp;the Commissioners that&nbsp;substance misuse costs Americans $740 billion a year in health care costs, lost productivity and criminal justice costs.&nbsp;

September declared National Recovery Month by Barton County Commission