BE PART OF SOLUTION IN COMBATING ALCOHOL, DRUG USE

According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, one in
every four Americans believes drug and alcohol addiction is the nation's
most serious health issue. This would place the problem ahead of heart
disease, cancer and depression.

In Stanislaus County, the problems and terrors caused by the manufacturing
of methamphetamine have been well-documented. An argument could be made
that addiction adversely affects the quality of life in Modesto far more
than air pollution or development.

The statistics provided by the National Council on Alcohol and Drug
Dependence can be frightening: They paint a picture of avoidance and denial
throughout the nation. Figures compiled by Peter D. Hart Research
Associates show that 82 percent of doctors, a 58 percent majority of
employers and 58 percent of clergy avoid addressing either alcoholism or
drug addiction with their patients, staff or congregation.

Why this shying away from a health issue that devastates families and
affects society in such horrific numbers? In many cases, people are of the
belief that alcoholism and drug addiction are issues of morality or "will
power." Despite decades of research and education, the vast majority of
Americans still have difficulty looking beyond the actions of the
afflicted. This is understandable, since those actions so often impact the
innocent. It is very difficult to feel sympathy for someone who, because of
an inability to not drink alcohol, has just wiped out a family on the
freeway. Yet change that scenario to one where the accident is caused by a
someone thrown into a diabetic seizure or who has had a heart attack, and
people are less likely to view the driver as a moral leper.

Recovery from alcoholism and-or drug addiction is possible, but it often
takes years of treatment for the afflicted to be able to claim any dry or
clean time. For some, this health issue has affected their lives to such an
extent that it will take years before they can make any financial or
educational progress. Thus, the person recovering from this illness often
needs help in ways that closely resemble that which is given to those
rendered paralyzed or brain damaged. They need help with housing, with
education, with job placement.

During April, a nationwide effort to raise our collective consciousness
regarding alcoholism and drug addiction is taking place. I urge anyone
concerned with our quality of life to not avoid this important public
health issue. Talk with family and friends about what you know when it
comes to alcohol and drug use. Ask questions of your civic leaders, your
clergy and your children about what they believe needs to be done to attack
this problem.

Klinger is a visiting editor on The Bee's editorial board.