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Time to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction
Friday, Aug. 24, 2007
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Stigma is still strongly associated with substance abuse in our society, creating significant barriers to treatment. Addiction to alcohol or drugs is a chronic disease similar to other diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Like these other common chronic diseases, substance abuse often runs in families due to genetics, is influenced by environmental and social factors and has the ability to respond positively to appropriate treatment.
The benefits of treatment for addicted individuals and for society are enormous. For the individual, treatment reduces the risk of numerous health-related problems and increases the ability to maintain employment and healthy relationships. On a larger scale, treatment creates a more productive workforce and reduces crime, automobile accidents and homelessness. Investing in treatment saves money in the long run, with some measurements showing a benefit-to-cost ratio of up to 7 to 1. Additionally, early treatment is much more successful and less costly than treatment that is delayed until an addiction becomes more severe.
Unfortunately, many individuals often feel reluctant to seek treatment for fear of losing their jobs, affecting personal relationships or a variety of other concerns. Recognizing that substance abuse is a chronic disease and that it affects people of all incomes, ages and ethnicities is important. Public awareness regarding the realities of substance abuse and the effectiveness of treatment are key to reducing this stigma and saving lives and dollars.
We owe it to our family, friends and community to support recovery and help open the doors to treatment. When stigma is reduced, more people will seek treatment to reclaim their lives and reintegrate into the community.
In recognition of the 18th Annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, Walden⁄Sierra strives to promote the hopeful and healing message of recovery to members of the Southern Maryland community.
We support those already in recovery and encourage those in need of help to seek treatment. The professional staff at Walden⁄Sierra continues to provide ‘‘Help for Today; Hope for Tomorrow.”
Kathleen O’Brien, Leonardtown
