by Gina DeMent, Public Information Officer
Five County Mental Health Authority
Substance use disorders are treatable diseases, and when they are properly addressed, those affected can lead productive, healthy lives.
Yet people in our communities mistakenly believe that abusing alcohol or drugs is a personal weakness, not a medical illness. The truth is that addiction is a medical condition that should be treated like any other illness. The 2008 expansion of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, which provides equity in the coverage of mental health and substance use disorders, proves we have made many strides. We must continue to collaborate to educate people about addiction and the benefits of treatment and recovery by sharing this message online and offline.
Addiction is a real issue, with an estimated 23.2 million people needing treatment for an alcohol or illicit drug use problem in 2008. Locally, there are many people who struggle with addiction to drugs, both illegal and legal prescription medications, and alcohol. Yet not enough enter treatment or access recovery services. In fact, only 3.9 million people nationwide received some kind of treatment for an alcohol or drug related problem in 2008; millions of others did not get help, partly due to shame relating to their addiction.
This September in celebration of the 21th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, (an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment), we call on everyone in the Five County area to educate others about this disease and encourage access to treatment and recovery services in our area. We can give teachers resources to support children who need help for their own or a family member’s addiction; open communication lines through our everyday social and work interactions; and provide the media with up-to-date, accurate scientific information about addiction, treatment, and recovery to dispel the myths.
We also can do this online. Many adult Americans use the Internet to search for health information online and indicate that the Internet is a great medium for educating our community about substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery. Local treatment and recovery resources are located on the Five County Mental Health website. Additional information is available at www.recoverymonth.com. Some useful sites include SAMHSA’s Treatment Locator, the SAMHSA Access to Recovery program, and the Recovery Community Services Program.
Additionally, the Internet provides a safe haven for people who may be afraid to publicly voice their struggle with a substance use disorder. They may find support and treatment services through social networking sites, chat rooms, and organization list serves: resources that remind them that they are not alone. These online tools also may direct people to valuable face-to-face support meetings. Another important resource is SAMHSA’s 24-hour national helpline for information and treatment referrals in English and Spanish, 1-800-662-HELP. To find out what help is available for you locally call the Five County Mental Health Authority Call center at 1-877-619-3761. Addiction affects our entire community. Together we can help people, families, and our community — together we can learn about addiction and begin to heal.