TREATMENT, NOT JAIL

To the Editor:

Imagine a nation in which a deadly but treatable disease is taking its toll
on more than 5 percent of the population. One that is wreaking havoc with
the lives of millions of men, women and children, but only 20 percent of
the people who need treatment are receiving it.

That's the situation that prevails in the United States today. The disease
is alcohol and drug addiction.

Men and women in the recovery community cite three disturbing trends that
contribute to this situation.

First, there has been a noticeable re-stigmatization of substance abuse and
addiction. Second, substance abuse and addiction have moved further outside
the medical realm as the idea of addiction as a disease comes under attack.
(Scientific evidence has shown that addiction is a medical problem, not a
moral relapse.) Third, there is a continuing criminalization of addiction.
We are building more prisons and continue to incarcerate people with
alcohol and substance abuse problems. In most cases, they receive no
treatment while in prison. When released untreated, they fall back to old
behaviors.

All these factors contribute to a tremendous cost to society - an estimated
$294 billion annually.

What can be done about it?

Experts in the recovery field at the federal, state and local levels
collaborated on an initiative to develop Changing the Conversation: The
National Treatment Plan Initiative to Improve Substance Abuse Treatment.
The plan recommends actions to help the nation meet the challenges
presented by addiction.

The guidelines for positive action in the plan range from closing the
serious gap in treatment capacity, and urging insurers to provide coverage
for dependence equivalent to other medical conditions, to assuring that an
individual needing treatment will be identified, be assessed, and receive
treatment no matter where he or she enters the realm of services -
including the judicial system.

There is no better time than during September, National Alcohol and Drug
Addiction Recovery Month, to raise our voices to urge our community to make
effective treatment available at the local level for all those in need.

"Join the Voices of Recovery: A Call to Action." I am area chairwoman for
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. I hope you will join me
in taking these first steps toward solving this national medical emergency.

Jennie L. Thacker

Florence