The chances are high that you or someone you know has or is currently in an addiction. Addiction is pervasive and affects all kinds of people from every walk of life. Addiction does not discriminate on who it affects for any reason. Data strongly suggests that these past 12 months of life disruptions and COVID-19 restrictions have amplified people's desire to seek relief through substance use. Most medical experts agree that addiction is a disease. Unfortunately, substance abuse is one of the highest preventable causes of death in the US.
A recent web article from the CDC reports, "Excessive alcohol use is responsible for more than 95,000 deaths in the United States each year, or 261 deaths per day. These deaths shorten the lives of those who die by an average of almost 29 years, for a total of 2.8 million years of potential life lost. It is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and cost the nation $249 billion in 2010." (www.cdc.com)
Another research study by the National Institute of Substance Abuse published the following stats regarding opioid-related deaths. In 2019, nearly 50,000 people in the United States died from opioid-involved overdoses. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health and social and economic welfare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including healthcare costs, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement. (www.drudabuse.gov)
With data and information such as this, the question that inevitably comes up is how can more effective treatment be utilized? And, how does this treatment differ from our standard modes of addiction care? The medical and science communities are expanding medications and clinical therapies every year. While this is encouraging and great news, there is still so much left for us to learn and to do to help those suffering from addiction.
Johan Hari, author, and journalist presents an excellent case for effective treatments that may seem counterintuitive compared to traditional recovery currently offered in the US. Hari makes a very persuasive case that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety but community. Please view the short Ted Talk video below to hear him explain how he came to this compelling perspective.
If you or anyone you know needs substance abuse treatment, please call Foundations Counseling at 256-497-1790 to schedule an appointment. We also offer a no-cost Recovery Group meeting open to the community every first Thursday at 6 pm. We would love to see you there!
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