TREATMENT AVAILABLE FOR ADDICTS

The Oklahoman has reported recently on methamphetamine use, along with other
articles about drugs and their effects on peoples' lives. I'm interested in
this subject since my family has been directly affected by drug addiction.
Mine is what you might call a "pretty normal" family. I learned through
experience that addiction can happen to anyone. It's a disease. Once a
person gets addicted to drugs or alcohol, it will destroy them -- mentally,
spiritually and physically.

Fortunately, my family had the resources to find treatment. However,
many people don't know when they're dealing with addiction and don't
know what to do about it. Some addicts can recover through 12-step
support groups alone; others need treatment. Those suffering from
addiction must get help or they will probably die.

September is National Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month. It's
a good time to remind readers that alcohol and drug addiction is a
chronic disease that needs treatment. A Chance to Change offers a free
Community Education Series on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the Northwest
Hilton Hotel. For those concerned about a loved one's use of drugs or
alcohol, this is a good place to get information about how the disease
affects them. Recovery is possible and there is hope for them, too.

Allen Paine, Oklahoma City

Paine is chairman of the board for the nonprofit A Chance to Change
Foundation in Oklahoma City, which offers addiction treatment programs.