Pubdate: Sun, 11 Mar 2007
Source: Journal and Courier (IN)
Copyright: 2007 Federated Publications, Inc
Contact: http://www.jconline.com/services/forms/letter-to-editor.shtml
Website: http://www.jconline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1691
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

ADDICTION TREATMENT EXISTS, BUT LACKING

Cathy Streifel is board president of SURF Center, a Lafayette-based 
group that helps people with deadly addictions.

She battled alcohol addiction for 20 years and knows the difficulties 
involved in seeking help and overcoming reliance on a mind-altering 
substance, be it alcohol or drugs.

"Once a person becomes addicted, willpower and rationality go out the 
window," Streifel said.

Signs that a person needs help include sneakiness, lying and overall 
changes in behavior and appearance.

High Costs

Julia Chester, an assistant professor of psychological sciences at 
Purdue University who currently is conducting research on alcohol and 
substance abuse, said the cost of addiction to society is about $360 
billion each year in medical and other expenses.

As for human impact, a large percentage of traffic crashes, homicides 
and other crimes often involve alcohol or substance abuse.

Streifel said she worries that there are inadequate treatment options 
for hardcore users in Tippecanoe County, especially now that the 
psychiatric unit at Home Hospital is closed. Addicts were taken there 
because Lafayette does not have a detoxification center, she said.

"Someone coming down from heroin or alcohol could be in serious 
danger to detox without medical help," she said. "We need more 
in-patient treatment to help people stabilize and get on their feet."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman