Few people realize that substance abuse is America’s number one health problem - a conclusion reached by the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation after an exhaustive study of the subject. "Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease," they state.

To quote the RWJ Foundation, "no population group is immune to substance abuse and its effects. Men and women, people of all ages, racial and ethnic groups and levels of education drink, smoke and use illicit drugs." They add, "young adults are most likely to use alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. Men are more likely than women to use most substances. Whites are more likely than blacks or Hispanics to drink alcohol. People with more education are likely to drink, but those with less education are more likely to drink heavily."

The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) - a leading scientific organization in the drug abuse field - paints a graphic picture of how substance abuse permeates our entire society:

- Cocaine has been used by over 22 million Americans, about 1 million of whom are now regular abusers.
- Heroin is used by 2 million Americans, about 1 million of whom are now physically dependent addicts.
- Of 59 million women of child bearing age (14-44) nearly 5 million are using illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin.
- Drug abuse is associated with myriad health problems and drug abusers are substantively over-represented in hospital settings.

These are staggering statistics, reinforced by the grim cost of substance abuse to the U.S. economy. Each year it is estimated at over $414 billion, a burden that affects all of society through productivity losses, as well as costs related to medical care, crime, destruction of property and other losses.

So what can we as a community do about this? The CPDD makes these recommendations:

- Drug abuse should be viewed as a medical and public health problem. Treatment can be effective and it is much less costly than the alternative per patient costs:

- Treatment: $3-8 thousand per year.
- Incarceration: $40-70 thousand per year.
- Untreated: $50-100 thousand per year in criminal activity. 

- Allocation of Federal drug abuse expenditures should be redistributed from interdiction and criminal justice activities (now 70%) to public health and research activities.

We know that two out of three men leave Liberation Programs’ Liberation House program clean, sober, and employed, with varying degrees of hope. We also know that the realities of reentry into the world outside are overwhelming, even terrifying. If even a small percentage of interdiction and criminal justice expenditures were allocated to supplying more comprehensive supportive social services to people in recovery, we would greatly reduce the threat of relapse.

What these men need is safe housing, good jobs, education and stable friends and family. The road they travel is not only daunting; it’s often paved with incredible impediments. Almost 200 men graduate from Liberation House each year but there are only about 25 halfway house spots for them. At the very least, more housing would go a long way to strengthen their recovery efforts.

Addictive disease is devastating and the path to recovery difficult. This is why prevention programs such as the Youth Options programs of Liberation Programs are so essential to our communities. Let me reiterate what all the medical and scientific journals state, including the Journal of the American Medical Association: “Treatment of addiction is as successful as treatment of other chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma. Drug treatment reduces drug use by 40% to 60% and significantly decreases criminal activity during and after treatment. The most effective programs either provide on-site or are closely linked with, a wide variety of treatment elements and support services. Moreover…recovery can often be a long and complex process…the patient may need other medical services, family therapy, parenting instruction, vocational rehabilitation, and social and legal services.”

In other words, this truly requires a broad, community commitment. Everyday people committed to supporting a healthy community built upon a spirit of giving. People who choose to contribute their time, their talents, and their treasure, to programs and agencies that are working together to help men and women battling addictions and other life struggles.

After reading a series of local newspaper articles covering the Liberation House program, a friend asked me why I wasn’t discouraged by working in an area where only a minority “made it” after a first round of treatment. To me, recovery is a lot like learning to ride a bicycle. Maybe some of the people will hop on the first time and take off without a problem. The rest of us will get on, fall off, get on, fall off, and after numerous bumps and bruises, we’ll get the hang of it. The men and women in all of Liberation Programs’ programs who “get it right” after the first try are truly blessed. Ultimately, after a lot of tries, many more will make it. And I want to be there to shake their hands.