SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELP WORKS

By Dr. Terry Cline If a friend or loved one has cancer or heart
disease, it would be unthinkable to allow them only one chance for
treatment -- only one operation or one chance to make major lifestyle
changes to arrest their illness. Yet when it comes to substance abuse
treatment, people addicted to drugs or alcohol typically are
considered incapable of help after failing an initial chance at
recovery. Relapse following treatment too often is viewed as failure.
People are shamed as lacking self-control or willpower, or otherwise
dismissed as immoral, weak or being non-law-abiding citizens. The
truth is that substance abuse is as much a medical issue as heart
disease, diabetes, cancer or other chronic ailments. And like these
illnesses, recovery is not only possible, it's a reality -- a fact to
be noted in September, the 15th annual National Alcohol and Drug
Addiction Recovery Month.

For years, addiction has been recognized by professional medical
organizations as a primary, chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal
disease. Much like other chronic illnesses, environmental and
behavioral components such as diet, exercise, stress and lifestyle all
contribute to the onset and management of these diseases.

Just as a person may be genetically predisposed to heart problems, so
are people predisposed to addiction. A report in the September issue
of Human Molecular Genetics magazine quotes scientists as saying they
have identified a specific gene that appears to be linked to
alcoholism and depression. Called the CHRM2 gene, it's involved in
attention, learning, memory and cognition, and is strongly associated
with alcoholism and depression.

Bill Moyers, vice president of external affairs for the Hazelden
Foundation and a nationally recognized expert on substance abuse
treatment processes, went through treatment three times before it
finally "took." Today he pays taxes, votes, obeys the law and makes a
positive contribution to society. His message is that "treatment does
work and it can change lives."

The argument that it costs too much to send people to substance abuse
treatment doesn't hold water when you compare how much untreated
addiction costs our state -- more than $7 billion a year in public and
private funds. Nationally, the economic burden of addiction --
including health-care costs, lost worker productivity and crime -- is
estimated at greater than $400 billion each year. Treatment is a sound
fiscal policy in addition to being a vital step toward maintaining
healthier communities and families.

Certainly, those in recovery from substance abuse must take
responsibility for managing their disease and taking the necessary
actions to avoid relapse. The concept and practice of disease
management are critical in allowing tens of thousands of Oklahomans --
those with addiction, heart disease, cancer and diabetes, among others
- -- to maintain productive and fulfilling lives.

Cline is commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services and serves as the state's secretary of health.