SUBSTANCE ABUSE BATTLED

Community leaders announced Friday the creation of a new Oklahoma City
metro- area organization - the Recovery Coalition - devoted to helping
individuals recognize and seek treatment for alcohol and drug abuse.

"The first step for Oklahoma is to help people understand that addiction is
a disease process, not a moral failing. It is treatable, like any other
disease," said Jo Ann Pearce, executive director of a Chance to Change
Foundation.

Treatment must be made "more visible, accessible and acceptable," Pearce
said at Francis Tuttle Technology Center during a meeting commemorating
September as National Drug Addiction and Recovery Month.

The Recovery Coalition, Pearce explained, is comprised of more than a dozen
diverse entities -- including educators, judges, churches, insurance
agents, and social workers.

Member agencies are Parents Helping Parents, Celebrate Recovery,
Specialized Outpatient Services, and Casey Family Programs -- and more
members are desired, civic leaders said Friday.

The problem is immense, Jo Ann Pearce said.

"This disease is Oklahoma's No. 1 health problem. Besides lost lives,
broken homes and wounded children, the cost of substance abuse to the state
is conservatively estimated at $6.8 billion a year.

"One of every eight dollars spent in Oklahoma is consumed by the direct
costs of abuse and addiction and lost productivity," Pearce said.

About 350,000 Oklahomans are thought to be addicted to drugs or alcohol,
said Dr. Hal Vorse of Oklahoma City.

Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin said Friday said she is particularly concerned about
the rising use of so-called "club drugs" such as Ecstasy.

"Our children are being told by criminals who sell these poisons that they
are safe. But we know better -- club drugs are dangerous and addictive
substances," Fallin said.

"Many parents don't know anything about club drugs or about the 'raves'
where these drugs often are abused.

"We are trying to get the word out to parents and teenagers that these
drugs are very dangerous -- and even fatal," she said.

More than half of all Oklahoma prison inmates have had a substance abuse
problem, Fallin said.

One Recovery Coalition member is Oklahoma County District Judge Twyla Gray.

"At least 80 percent of the people who come into my courtroom have some
sort of alcohol or drug problem.

"Anything we can do to help convince people that they need recovery, and to
offer the option of treatment ... is going to greatly benefit the entire
community," Gray said Friday.

Among specific initiatives of the Recovery Coalition are:

Introducing more substance- abuse prevention programs in schools; urging
companies to start personnel-assistance programs to help employees with
alcohol or drug addictions; coaxing businesses and governmental agencies to
have drug treatment as part of benefit packages; and training physicians
and all health-care professionals to recognize the symptoms of substance
abuse and steer patients to appropriate treatment options.

"We must break through the reluctance of families, teachers, churches,
employers and people throughout the community to address alcohol and drug
problems through education, prevention and treatment. Like cancer, it won't
go away by itself," Pearce said.

Substance abuse is insidious, progressive and fatal," Pearce said.