Addiction, Treatment and Recovery

Almost every public opinion poll indicates that Americans believe alcohol and drug use and abuse are critical problems in their communities – especially when the use and abuse involves young people.

Yet it will be surprising if either George W. Bush or John Kerry actively addresses the issue of addiction to alcohol and/or other drugs. The war on terror, the state of the economy, plus issues of trust and honesty are dominating the candidates’ comments and news media headlines.

The fact is, of course, it’s not an exaggeration to say that drugs and alcohol are “terrorizing” many American communities – and threatening millions of American families.

Twelve million Americans age 12 or older are classified in the dependence/abuse category when it comes to alcohol; 3.2 million Americans are addicted to illicit drugs (16 million Americans are “current” illicit drug users, meaning they’ve used an illicit drug at least once during the previous 30 days); 2.4 million Americans are addicted to both alcohol and illicit drugs, according to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

Yet as the political wars heat up, a conspiracy of silence surrounds this deadly situation.

I believe what we in the treatment/recovery community must do now in the face of this silence is to take the debate over the disease of addiction, the efficacy of treatment and the promise of recovery to the political arena. To be blunt, we have to make some noise – especially now.

Our message should be delivered not only to the presidential candidates, but also to Congressional candidates. And don’t forget state legislatures – they’re important forums, too!

What should our message be?

There are eight policy initiatives that can and will save lives, in the face of more and more Americans becoming addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs.

Here are those initiatives:

1. Screening for alcohol and drug problems should be made a routine part of every primary care and emergency room visit.
2. Insurance coverage for the treatment of the disease of alcohol/drug addiction should be at the same level as for any other disease.
3. Discrimination against alcoholics/addicts needs to be fought at every level.
4. Alcohol advertising and promotions aimed at young people should be banned.
5. We need to better educate young people about the dangers of alcohol/drug use, and about the disease of addiction. We know now there is a direct correlation between underage use/abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs and later-in-life susceptibility to the disease of addiction.
6. Jail shouldn’t be an end unto itself for non-violent drug and alcohol offenders. What works for these people is effective treatment and structured continuing care.
7. Repeal policies that prevent ex-offenders from returning to full participation in society.
8. Support and fund treatment and prevention programs that have shown their effectiveness.

I urge you to speak out, to get involved – we have a lot of educating to do, a lot of persuading to do – and the current political environment provides an ideal forum for us to wage a campaign on behalf of the millions of our countrymen and women who are afflicted with this disease.

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