September is National Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month
State health officials are encouraging citizens to get the treatment they need for alcohol and other drug use. With treatment, people can
make a full recovery.
"In Wisconsin, 457,000 adolescents and adults are in need of treatment for a substance use disorder," said Department of Health Services
Secretary Karen Timberlake. "We need to keep working to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with addiction so that people get
the treatment they need."
The National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month efforts aim at raising awareness about the benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder
treatment, praise the contributions of treatment providers and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders in all
its forms is possible.
According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 21 million Americans suffer from addiction
or dependence on alcohol and drugs and have yet to experience recovery. A Harvard School of Public Health/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Report
found that almost two-thirds of Americans have friends or family members who have struggled with addiction.
In Wisconsin, there is a higher prevalence of alcohol use and binge drinking in adults, especially young adults, compared to the country
as a whole. Underage drinking and underage binge drinking also occur at higher rates in Wisconsin, as does drinking among women of childbearing
age.
"We need to continue to educate our communities about substance use disorders, the effectiveness of treatment, and the realistic possibility
of recovery," said Secretary Timberlake. "Individualized treatment helps people get on the road to recovery - and recovery from addiction
is possible."
Last Revised: October 06, 2009
