Pubdate: Wed, 26 Sep 2007
Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Copyright: 2007 St. Petersburg Times
Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
Website: http://www.sptimes.com/home.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Author: Mark Fontaine

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TAKES TOLL ON FLA.

The impact of alcohol and other drug use permeates every facet of 
daily life. Assemble 10 individuals in a room and four will be 
directly impacted by substance abuse, whether it be a child expelled 
from school for drug use, a parent self-medicating, a spouse who lost 
a job because of heavy drinking, a loved one killed by a drunken 
driver or an overdose in the emergency room. Another three of those 
10 will reveal that an uncle, aunt, friend or minister suffered the 
consequences of a substance-abuse problem.

The troubles associated with substance abuse cut equally across all 
segments of society from the rich, famous and powerful to the 
homeless person living on the street. In all these situations there 
remains one common thread - substance abuse robs each individual 
affected by its consequences, directly or indirectly, of a prosperous 
and full life. In Florida, substance-abuse problems take a major toll 
on the health and safety of its citizens as well as a fiscal toll on 
the economy of the state.

For example:

One out of every 14 hospital stays includes a person with 
substance-related disorders.

70 percent of youths removed by the child-welfare system are removed 
as a direct result of a parental substance-abuse problem.

7,741 Floridians died from drug-related deaths last year.

41 percent of Florida's traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.

70 percent of all Department of Corrections inmates, approximately 
65,000 individuals, have a substance-abuse problem.

The irony of the situation is that, because of the emerging science 
of addiction, we know what works to change lives. What is missing is 
the willingness to invest in the substance-abuse prevention and 
treatment programs that will change behavior patterns before heavy 
addiction sets in. The Department of Children & Families estimates 
that only 30 percent of Floridians who need substance-abuse treatment 
are able to access treatment in our state.

While research clearly shows that substance-abuse treatment saves 
medical and emergency room costs, the insurance industry continues to 
oppose parity legislation so that substance-abuse is not treated as 
all other chronic medical conditions, making recovery a difficult and 
costly proposition for those who seek treatment.

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, an 
opportunity to celebrate the miracle of recovery and improve our 
efforts to help those in Florida who seek treatment. The Florida 
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association and our statewide members are 
committed to facilitating the dialogue on how the state of Florida 
must invest in substance-abuse prevention and treatment programs, and 
ensure existing programs are not cut.

We are working to reduce the negative stigma of a substance-abuse 
problem and continuing to implement evidence-based prevention and 
treatment programs that ensure the state's limited resources are used wisely.

Each day, individuals enter treatment and recovery support services 
and detour from a path of destruction onto a path of fulfillment. 
Substance-abuse prevention and treatment programs are effective. It 
is a wise investment that will save lives and insure a safer Florida.

Mark Fontaine is the executive director of the Florida Alcohol and 
Drug Abuse Association.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom