Alcohol and Drug Addiction Costs Nearly Equal to the Federal Budget Deficit
The multi-billion dollar industry of legal and illegal drugs leaves much more in its wake
(PRWEB) May 31, 2005 -- Dr. Nora Volkow is the director of the National
Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. She recently stated that the total cost of alcohol and drug addiction
to society was estimated at $500 billion, which is more than the gross domestic
product of over 200 countries in the world.
The overall costs to society
include categories such as emergency medial care, crime, corrections, law
enforcement, lost productivity, research, treatment and prevention.
A
publication from the Office of National Drug Control Policy examining costs of
drug abuse from 1992 to 2002 stated that one of the largest percentages of
increase in spending was for treatment research. The amount of money allocated
more than doubled in a ten year period. Much of the research in the last decade
has been focused on the areas of co-occurring disorders and other brain chemical
theories, yet the problem seems to have gotten worse in many
areas.
Treatment practices have included more replacement drugs and other
pharmaceuticals including methadone, anti-anxiety medication, antidepressants
and anti-psychotic drugs, all of which have their own set of side-effects and
don’t fit the definition of rehabilitation. Meanwhile, prescription drug costs
continue to soar as well as revenues for the pharmaceutical companies.
In
recent years there has been more of a movement to focus efforts on programs that
get results. This includes effective prevention and rehabilitation programs in
communities to eliminate drug abuse as well as treatment in the correctional
system for drug abusing offenders to reduce recidivism.
As one of the
nation’s largest and most successful drug rehabilitation and education programs,
Narconon Arrowhead continues to grow and create positive effects. Whether it’s
educating young and old alike throughout the country with massive awareness and
prevention campaigns, working with officials in the U.S. and other countries or
helping individuals and families overcome addiction, Narconon Arrowhead
continues to impact millions of lives every year.
Narconon Arrowhead uses
the drug-free rehabilitation methodology developed by American author and
humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. The residential treatment center serves people from
all over the country and is certified by the state department of mental health
and substance abuse services and is also accredited by the prestigious
Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF). The program is in high demand
simply because it gets results.
With effective programs like Narconon
Arrowhead, the cost of alcohol and drug addiction can significantly be reduced
in America. For more information or to get help, contact Narconon Arrowhead
today by calling 1-800-468-6933 or visit www.stopaddiction.com for your free assessment and
consultation.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb245938.htm