IIA 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. J. RES. 33 

Recognizing the efforts of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the 

Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services to address 

the stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 21, 2008 

Mr. BROWN introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice 

and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the efforts of the Ohio Department of Mental 

Health and the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug 

Addiction Services to address the stigma associated with 

mental health and substance use disorders. 

Whereas May is National Mental Health Month; 

Whereas approximately 54,000,000 Americans suffer from 

mental illnesses and 26,000,000 from addictions, with a 

significant number living with co-occurring mental illnesses and addictions; 

Whereas more than 2,000,000 Ohioans—nearly 1 in 5—experience some mental illness or emotional disturbance each 

year; 

Whereas 910,000 Ohioans aged 12 and older suffered from 

alcohol or illicit drug dependence or abuse in 2006; 


erowe on PRODPC61 with BILLS
2 

•SJ 33 IS 

Whereas fewer than 1⁄3 of adults and 1⁄2 of children with a 

diagnosable mental disorder in the United States receive 

any mental health services in a given year; 

Whereas only an estimated 10.8 percent of those with drug 

or alcohol use disorders in the United States in 2006 received treatment; 

Whereas a significant number of Ohioans with addictions in 

2006 did not receive treatment, including an estimated 

236,000 individuals aged 12 and older with illicit drug 

addictions and an estimated 695,000 individuals with alcohol use disorders; 

Whereas the cost of the consequences of untreated mental illness, including unnecessary disability, unemployment, 

substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide is more than $100,000,000,000 each 

year in the United States; 

Whereas alcohol and other drug abuse cost Americans more 

than $500,000,000,000 a year through the combined 

medical, economic, criminal, and social impact on communities; 

Whereas the Surgeon General reports that mental health and 

substance use disorders combined account for more than 

1⁄5 of all lost days of productive life, exceeding the burden 

of cardiovascular disease and cancer; 

Whereas the indirect costs to Ohio of untreated mental illness 

total more than $3,500,000,000 a year; 

Whereas between 70 and 90 percent of individuals with mental disorders have significant reduction of symptoms and 

improved quality of life through treatment; 


erowe on PRODPC61 with BILLS
3 

•SJ 33 IS 

Whereas drug treatment is proven to cut drug use in half, 

reduce crime by 80 percent, and reduce arrests by 64 

percent; 

Whereas for every dollar spent on prevention in Ohio, there 

is an economic savings of $7 in reduced crime, child 

abuse and neglect, homelessness, and lost productivity; 

Whereas the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA) finds that stigma is a barrier 

that discourages individuals and their families from getting help; 

Whereas stigma can result in inadequate insurance coverage 

for mental health and substance use disorder services; 

Whereas stigma may lead to fear and mistrust toward people 

living with mental illness or substance use disorders and 

their families; 

Whereas stigma may cause families and friends to turn their 

backs on people with mental illness or substance use disorders; 

Whereas SAMHSA finds that many people would rather tell 

employers that they committed a petty crime and served 

time in jail than admit to spending time in a psychiatric 

hospital; 

Whereas the Surgeon General finds that stigma must no 

longer be tolerated if we are to reduce the burden of 

mental illness, improve access to care, and achieve urgently needed knowledge about the brain, mind, and behavior; 

Whereas the American Medical Association, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Addiction concur—addiction is a chemical change in the brain; and 


erowe on PRODPC61 with BILLS
4 

•SJ 33 IS 

Whereas treatment can work, people can recover, and Americans are well worth the investment: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That Congress— 

4 (1) recognizes that stigma fosters discrimina5 tion against individuals with mental health and sub6 stance use disorders and discourages individuals 

7 with mental health and substance use disorders from 

8 seeking treatment; 

9 (2) encourages efforts to increase awareness of 

10 the existence and impact of stigma on individuals 

11 with mental health and substance use disorders; 

12 (3) recognizes the efforts of the Ohio Depart13 ment of Mental Health and the Ohio Department of 

14 Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services to decrease 

15 stigma through the ‘‘Think Outside the Stigma’’ 

16 campaign; and 

17 (4) encourages each and every American to 

18 work toward overcoming the stigma associated with 

19 mental illness and substance use disorders. 

Æ 


erowe on PRODPC61 with BILLS