Phoenix House, the largest facility for substance abuse prevention and treatment in the United States recently found that drug and alcohol abuse is on the rise.
Rick Tabor, the admissions counselor at Glenbeigh Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center, thinks the bad economy is the main reason for the increase in substance abuse.
“People are losing jobs or they’re unable to pay for bills … stress in the workplace, and I think that some of the avenues that people use to escape from that is drugs and alcohol,” Mr. Tabor said.
According to Howard Meitiner, the president and CEO of Phoenix House, 88 percent of Americans think that drug abuse in the country is at least serious, with about one-quarter of the population believing that it is crisis-level.
Phoenix House conducted a survey in which over 400 people participated, and found that drugs have caused family trouble in 40 percent of the respondents, while 34 percent have friends or family members who currently engage in substance abuse.
Meitiner said that people often lose their self-respect when they have financial problems, and it can easily lead to substance abuse and addiction. Among the people surveyed, 26 percent think that during the economic downturm, young people are drinking more than usual.
Tabor commented, “Drugs are only the symptom of the problem we have. We need to hide from guilt, fear, shame, anger, remorse—different aspects of our life that become difficult and create emotional pain. That’s when we use more, that’s when our addiction really takes off.”
Moreover, as Meitiner pointed out, most people don’t know much about substance abuse treatment. “We know that truly only 1 in 10 individuals with addiction receive the treatment they need,” he said.
“What these rising numbers underscore is a dangerous, and growing, gap between the need for treatment and the community resources that are available. States, local governments, and nonprofits are all facing tremendous budget shortfalls—and they are cutting the resources to help this growing group of addicts in trouble, just when they need it the most,” warns Mr. Meitiner.
Rick Tabor, the admissions counselor at Glenbeigh Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center, thinks the bad economy is the main reason for the increase in substance abuse.
“People are losing jobs or they’re unable to pay for bills … stress in the workplace, and I think that some of the avenues that people use to escape from that is drugs and alcohol,” Mr. Tabor said.
According to Howard Meitiner, the president and CEO of Phoenix House, 88 percent of Americans think that drug abuse in the country is at least serious, with about one-quarter of the population believing that it is crisis-level.
Phoenix House conducted a survey in which over 400 people participated, and found that drugs have caused family trouble in 40 percent of the respondents, while 34 percent have friends or family members who currently engage in substance abuse.
Meitiner said that people often lose their self-respect when they have financial problems, and it can easily lead to substance abuse and addiction. Among the people surveyed, 26 percent think that during the economic downturm, young people are drinking more than usual.
Tabor commented, “Drugs are only the symptom of the problem we have. We need to hide from guilt, fear, shame, anger, remorse—different aspects of our life that become difficult and create emotional pain. That’s when we use more, that’s when our addiction really takes off.”
Moreover, as Meitiner pointed out, most people don’t know much about substance abuse treatment. “We know that truly only 1 in 10 individuals with addiction receive the treatment they need,” he said.
“What these rising numbers underscore is a dangerous, and growing, gap between the need for treatment and the community resources that are available. States, local governments, and nonprofits are all facing tremendous budget shortfalls—and they are cutting the resources to help this growing group of addicts in trouble, just when they need it the most,” warns Mr. Meitiner.
