DON'T IGNORE TRUTH ABOUT ADDICTION

Sometimes it's easier to look the other way. However, social workers and
mental health professionals can't look the other way. They know all too
well the extent of alcohol and drug addiction that lies hidden in our
society, communities and neighborhoods.

There are many myths surrounding the issue of addiction that discourage
society from properly addressing the problem. As a result, many people just
look the other way, ignoring the detrimental effects of addiction.

Addiction is an illness. While health professionals view addiction as an
illness to be treated like hypertension or diabetes, others see the problem
as a bad habit - the result of moral weakness. According to myth, they
could quit if they wanted to, right?

The truth is few people addicted to alcohol and other drugs can simply quit
using them, no matter how strong their resolve. Most need one or more
courses of structured substance abuse treatment to reduce or end their
dependence on alcohol and other drugs.

Treatment programs do work. Like most medical treatment, addiction
treatment cannot guarantee lifelong health. Relapse is possible - and
treatable. Though a person may not achieve perfect abstinence, treatment
can reduce the number and duration of relapses, minimize related problems
such as crime and poor overall health, and improve the individual's ability
to function in daily life.

Treatment is provided in various forms. Many accept the myth that people
with alcohol and other drug problems get sent to a 28-day treatment program
where they dry out and emerge new individuals, cured of addiction. The
truth is treatment is provided in many different settings in many different
ways and for different lengths of time.

While general phases of treatment include detoxification, rehabilitation,
continuing care and relapse prevention, health professionals emphasize the
importance of structuring treatment programs to fit each individual's
unique needs.

Most addicts are employed. According to myth, alcohol and drug addicts are
skid row bums who can't be helped. However, research has shown that as many
as two-thirds of those who abuse alcohol and/or drugs are employed. It's
important to point out that no user of alcohol or drugs is immune to
addiction. The illness does not discriminate. It affects all types of
people. No segment of the population is exempt.

Substance abuse treatment is cost-effective. Unfortunately, many addicted
individuals are not being treated. As a way of cutting costs, insurance
plans and government programs have drastically reduced coverage of alcohol
and drug treatment. However, studies have shown that an investment in
appropriate abuse treatment and prevention results in long-term health care
and societal benefits.

Myths make it easy to look the other way. The truth is much harder to
ignore. The effects of addiction reverberate throughout our communities and
impact many lives. Don't look the other way. Addiction destroys lives, and
the sooner we dispel the myths, the better off we will all be.

This Life Matters column was written by Doug Varney, president and CEO of
Frontier Health, the region's largest provider of mental and behavioral
health services. Previous Life Matters columns are available online at
www.frontierhealth.org. Send questions or correspondence to Doug Varney,
Life Matters, 1805 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport, Tenn. 37664.