IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 115 

Supporting the awareness of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery 

Month Resolution. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 30, 2009 

Mrs. BONO MACK (for herself and Mr. KENNEDY) submitted the following 

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 

and Commerce 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Supporting the awareness of National Alcohol and Drug 

Addiction Recovery Month Resolution. 

Whereas, according to the 2007 National Survey on Drug 

Use and Health, only 2,400,000 of the more than 

22,000,000 Americans who are dependent on drugs received treatment in 2007; 

Whereas the economic cost of drug, alcohol, and tobacco 

abuse in the United States is nearly $500,000,000,000, 

and impacts 100,000,000 people’s lives, either directly or 

indirectly; 

Whereas, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 

Principles of Effective Treatment published in 2000, 

drug treatment reduces drug use by 40 to 60 percent, 


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•HCON 115 IH 

can reduce criminal activity by 40 to 50 percent, and improves employment prospects by 40 percent; 

Whereas the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health 

states that non-medical use of prescription pain relievers 

was the category with the larger number of new initiates 

and their use ranks second only to marijuana as the most 

prevalent category of drug abuse; 

Whereas, according to the Faces and Voices of Recovery 

2004 survey of the general public on Addiction and Recovery, 63 percent of Americans report that addiction to 

drugs or alcohol has impacted their life, with 38 percent 

reporting that addiction has greatly impacted their life; 

Whereas the 2001 Face of Recovery Survey among the Recovery Community states that significant barriers to recovery include shame and embarrassment (40 percent), 

cost of treatment and lack of insurance (27 percent), fear 

of being fired (19 percent), and lack of treatment programs (11 percent); 

Whereas almost half of American adults know someone in recovery from alcohol or drug abuse; 

Whereas, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free 

America’s 2007 Parent Attitude Tracking Study Sponsored by the MetLife Foundation, nearly 80 percent of 

Americans believe that drug addiction is a disease and 

more than three quarters think that treatment will help 

most people with an alcohol or drug addiction to get well; 

Whereas, according to the 2000 National Institute on Drug 

Abuse, Principles of Effective Treatment, every dollar invested in treatment for addiction yields a return of $4 to 

$7 in reduced drug-related crime and costs; 


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Whereas the 2008 National Study of Public Attitudes toward 

Addiction by the Hazelden Foundation states that 77 

percent of Americans believe that the disease of addiction 

should be addressed in health care reform legislation and 

71 percent believe that health insurance should cover addiction treatment; and 

Whereas alcohol and drug addiction is a chronic disease for 

which there are effective community-based prevention and 

wellness programs, strategies, and activities: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) supports the observance of National Alcohol 

4 and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in order to 

5 bring awareness to the effects of prevention, re6 search, law enforcement, and treatment of alcohol 

7 and substance abuse; 

8 (2) recognizes and applauds the Department of 

9 Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse 

10 and Mental Health Services Administration, and 

11 Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America for 

12 working to raise awareness about the importance of 

13 recovery in communities throughout the Nation by 

14 hosting the Recovery Month Luncheon for hundreds 

15 of people from across the country; 

16 (3) recognizes and applauds the many national 

17 and community organizations for their work in proVerDate Nov 24 2008 01:49 May 01, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC115.IH HC115

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1 moting awareness of treatment options and those 

2 using and affected by drug abuse; and 

3 (4) urges organizations to work collaboratively 

4 with the education, law enforcement, research, and 

5 treatment community to implement new programs to 

6 treat the evolving drug abuse trends including the 

7 resources available for parents on drugfree.org and 

8 the promotion of community coalitions to encourage 

9 more drug-free communities. 

Æ 


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