Many alcoholics and addicts are lost when treatment is not readily available or accessible. The use of alcohol and drugs among our children is staggering. Most children first try alcohol or drugs at the ripe old age of 9. The increase in the number of children that abuse alcohol or drugs has tripled since 1992 and the juvenile justice programs struggle to deal with the huge numbers of adolescents committing crimes. This is credited in part to the fact that a large percent of those parents are abusing drugs themselves.
Addiction is a family disease.
I realize that because of the daily consequences we as a society experience, this is not a very popular or maybe I should say tolerated disease. The total economic cost of drug abuse in our Nation is estimated at 246 Billion Dollars. The cost of substance abuse is incurred by emergency rooms, hospitals, increased instances of HIV and other SA related illnesses, rising criminal activity and a staggering decline in productivity that affects all businesses. Treatment, without a doubt works. Studies done over the past 20 years indicate that treatment returns people to productive lives, promotes responsibility and accountability, reduces criminal behavior and violence.