Survey: Millions of drug users, but few get help

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/09/05/drug.use.ap/

WASHINGTON (AP) -- About 22 million people in the United States abused or were dependent on alcohol, drugs or both last year, but only a fraction received treatment, the government said Friday.

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Looks like the millions of dollars Bush flushed down the toilet for anti-drug ads on Fox news has done real well. For Fox news that is.

New U.S. survey finds millions of new drug abusers

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05397578.htm

WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - A redesigned survey of who uses and abuses drugs in the United States has found millions of "missed" users and addicts, with an estimated 22 million Americans suffering from alcohol or drug abuse.

The study, released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on Friday, finds that 19.5 million Americans used illicit drugs in 2002.

Last year's survey found that 15.9 million Americans used an illegal drug in 2001 -- but SAMHSA stressed that the latest survey used new methods and turned up many hidden drug users.

"The 2002 data are simply not comparable with data from previous surveys," the report reads.

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[frylock]

1. remember when the u.s had a drug problem..

[mistertrickster]

2. You have more time for drugs when your job got sent to India

Drug pushing may be the only growth industry under the current administration--oh, that and building gates for gated communities.

[ignatius]

3. Thank God that opium is flowing freely

from Afghanistan. Not only have we not found Osama, Saddam or WMDS, we are continuing to fail on the phony war on drugs.

Drugs, oil, and arms...big money for corrupt, greedy people.

[bemildred]

4. Silly bastards don't even know when they are sick:

"Only 1.4 million received specialized substance abuse
treatment for an illicit drug problem and 1.5 million received
treatment for alcohol problems," it reads.

Part of this is because drug and alcohol addicts often do not
recognize that they have a problem, the report said. "Over
94 percent of people with substance use disorders who did
not receive treatment did not believe they needed
treatment," the report reads.

Yet further proof they need treatment, no doubt.

[NNN0LHI]

5. Bush's niece got help with her crack habit though. Thats what counts n/t

[BiggJawn]

6. The abuser is always the last to know.

Always somebody else's fault they can't hold a job, always the spouse's fault you "went off" on them, "Jee-zuss Kee-Ryst! Get offa my back! it's just a 'FEW' Beers!"
and then there's the Enablers.

Of COURSE you "average" drunk or druggy doesn't think they gotta problem.
Until they either can't get the stuff anymore or get thrown in jail.

My ex-stepson used to tell us "I don't know why you guys put my ass in this rehab. I don't need to be here. Sure I get drunk once in a while, but I don't have a problem..."

This was a 16-yr-old kid who'd come staggering in at 5 in the morning with his shirt soaked in booze-scented vomit and his pants full of shit and piss...

[bemildred]

7. Some need help, and some do not.

Some drugs are more damaging and dangerous than others. Some
can be obtained with the help of a friendly medical professional,
and some you have to find yourself.

I've been watching America's affair with drugs for quite a while
now, and other than putting people in jail we have not accomplished
much. I find both the criminalization (throw them in jail) and the
medicalization (they are sick but don't know it) models lacking.

People need to be treated like grownups, held responsible for what
they do, and offered help when they want it. Education that is
more factual and less sanctimonious would help a lot too.

Edit: not saying your ex-stepson doesn't have a problem. Did the
rehab help? I have a friend who was put in rehab, I think he uses
less than before, but he gets angry when he talks about it.

[Porcupine]

8. Of course some Rehab programs are excuses for slave labor.....

or forced "Christian" indoctrination camps. Typical conditions at a rehab facility include:

The promise that you will serve jail time if you do not complete the course.

Forced "Christian" bible study and prayer meetings. This may include refusal to allow certain versions of the bible or hostile attitudes towards those raised in a different sect of christianity. Frequently at "faith-based" facilities addicts are not allowed any reading material but the bible and christian tracts.

Untrained, uneducated, and uncertified staff.

Post-dated food or food that has been rejected as damaged by markets.

Forced or coerced labor. "Jesus wants you to detail cars."

Embezzlement by directors of officers. The labors free, work contracts are at market rate and workers are unable to complain without threat of jail time.

Slave labor in the U.S.A.