CONTACT: Stephanie Marquis, 608-266-1683

TREATMENT AND RECOVERY ARE POSSIBLE

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

MADISON - 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."

If you would like to locate alcohol or other drug treatment providers in your area, go to http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/PrxInput.aspx?STATE=Wisconsin

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Last Revised:  July 12, 2010