Road to Recovery: Drugs Addiction and Drug Treatment. This is part of a story by SJNN fellow LaRisa Lynch- final publication expected early fall 2014.
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ROAD TO RECOVERY EXC ERPT FROM A STOR Y BY L ARISA LYNCH
Transcript
1. BY THE NUMBERS: WHY DRUG TREATMENT MATTERS In the US, an
estimated 23.9 million Americans aged 12 or older have used illicit
drugs. This estimate represents 9.2 percent of the US population.
*2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health- annual survey by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
2. BY THE NUMBERS: WHY DRUG TREATMENT MATTERS Nearly 75 percent
of parolees who leave prison without any drug treatment for
addiction (to cocaine or heroin) resume drug use within 3 months.*
Treatment reduces drug use between 40 and 60 percent, which is
comparable to treatment success rates for other chronic diseases
like asthma and hypertension.* Alcohol and drug treatment is cost
effective. Each $1 invested in treatment equals $4 to $7 in savings
on crime and criminal justice costs.* *Source: Illinois Department
of Human Services
3. VOICES OF RECOVERY Austin resident Delvertis Duke battled
addiction since the age of 22. He finally got clean thanks to a
37-day stint in jail, which he said saved his life.
4. VOICES OF RECOVERY Tim Ross access to a methadone
maintenance program allowed him to reconnect to God, but he had to
pay for the treatment out of pocket. Methadone is not covered under
Medicaid.
5. *2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health- annual survey
by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
REASONS PEOPLE DO NOT SEEK TREATMENT
6. ROAD TO RECOVERY: AFFORDABLE CARE ACT? The Affordable Care
Act (ACA), passed under President Obama, may offer more support to
those seeking drug treatment. Prior to ACA, substance abuse and
mental health treatment was not covered under some private health
insurance plans or were limited in the services provided. With a
focus on the Austin neighborhood, LaRisa Lynch is exploring how
these changes are playing out, and whether the ACA will fulfill
Congressman Danny K. Davis's campaign for Treatment on Demand.