IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 249 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction 
Recovery Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 22, 2005 
Ms. HARRIS (for herself and Mr. RAMSTAD) submitted the following concur-
rent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Re-
form 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Alcohol and 
Drug Addiction Recovery Month. 
Whereas 22,000,000 people in the United States are addicted 
to drugs or alcohol; 
Whereas 63 percent of Americans say that drug or alcohol 
addiction has had an impact on their lives either through 
personal addiction or the addiction of a friend or family 
member; 
Whereas drug and alcohol addiction affect Americans of every 
demographic; 
Whereas the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated 
that drug, tobacco, and alcohol addiction costs the United 
States over $484,000,000,000 per year in social costs in-
cluding drug-related crime, health care, lost job produc-
•HCON 249 IH 
tivity, accidents, and premature death, and this sum is 
greater than the amount budgeted in 2004 for the De-
partments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Jus-
tice, and Labor combined; 
Whereas each dollar invested in drug and alcohol treatment 
saves nearly 12 dollars in reduced drug-related crime, 
criminal justice, and health care costs; 
Whereas over 20,000,000 Americans in need of treatment 
have not received it; 
Whereas treatment for addiction is as effective as treatments 
for other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and 
high blood pressure; 
Whereas National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery 
Month celebrates the tremendous achievements of individ-
uals who have undergone successful addiction treatment 
and recognizes those in the field of addiction treatment 
who have dedicated their lives to helping people recover 
from addiction; 
Whereas hundreds of community, State, and national organi-
zations and individuals dedicated to fighting addiction 
and promoting treatment and recovery will recognize Sep-
tember 2005 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Re-
covery Month; 
Whereas to promote their efforts, the Center for Substance 
Abuse Treatment of the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration within the Department of 
Health and Human Services and the White House Office 
of National Drug Control Policy sponsor the celebration 
of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 
to celebrate the efforts of those currently in addiction re-
covery and encourage citizen action to help expand and
•HCON 249 IH 
improve the availability of effective addiction treatment; 
and 
Whereas the 2005 national campaign for National Alcohol 
and Drug Addiction Recovery Month embraces the theme 
of ‘‘Join the Voices for Recovery: Healing Lives, Fami-
lies, and Communities’’ and seeks to increase awareness 
about alcohol and drug addiction and promote treatment 
and recovery for the millions of Americans who need it: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress supports the goals and 
ideals of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery 
Month. 
Æ