The Addiction Help .com

Addiction is endemic in American families. A USA TODAY/HBO nationwide poll of adults April 27-May 31 found that one in five said they had an immediate relative who at some point had been addicted to alcohol or drugs. That translates into roughly 40 million American adults with a spouse, parent, sibling or child battling addiction. And that doesn't count the millions of children living with an addicted parent.


Many Americans might find these numbers shocking. But H. Westley Clark, who directs the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, says he's not surprised that 20% of poll respondents said they have an immediate relative who has been addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Is it this bad and do the results/figures honestly underscore the problem of addiction ?

Were you/are you affected in some way by a spouse or close relative, by alcohol/drug addiction ?

Yes my family has been seperated for 6 months now because of alcohol and the things that come with it. lying, cheating, spending outrageous amounts of money.. Not going to work. staying ouy late.. all due to an addiction that wasnt his wife and children. Now hes recovering trying to make it right.. I DONT KNOW HOW TO REGAIN WHAT WE HAD. WE HAVE 19 YEARS TOGETHER AND I REALLY DONT WANNA LET IT ALL GO FOR GOOD..

2006-07-27 01:45:43 by marnefirstinfantry

A short PSA - for Native American people. Bobby speaks the truth on the matter. Alcohol and drugs. They are bad bad fellows. They are the major ...

Why do you think Americans are obssessed with fighting drugs? A recent Time article notes that 18.7 million or 7.7% of Americans depend on or abuse alcohol vs 3.6 million people are dependent on drugs.

Here's a Science Daily article about the top three US Addictions: Booze, drugs, and tobacco:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20070705-19220500-bc-us-addictions.xml

Obviously alcohol addiction is a much greater problem in our society, so why do you think our society is obsessed with drugs?

Because they can control drugs, but they can't control alcohol.

Alcohol has been a major part of Western civilization from the very beginning, and attempts to control it (like the prohibition) have only met with failure. I guess old habits die hard.

Although I do agree with you that alcohol is the #1 killer in this country, besides tobacco. Alcohol is also the only major drug that has been proven to cause violent behavior. And yes, alcohol is a drug because it's 1) addictive and 2) mind-altering. It just happens to be legal.

2007-07-17 13:49:27 by edith clarke

Price: $61.99

Small Pox, religious persecution, death, destruction (of their way of life)...

If you're looking for the positives. The answer is much shorter: nothing. Anything that the Native American's have gained thru the European Settlers, was indirect, and only of benefit, because it benefitted the European's.

2007-04-28 04:30:55 by Gay Man

Price: $110.95

Friends of mine have an adult child who has already been through short term drug and alcohol rehab (2 weeks to 30 days) treatments, only to relapse. He needs longer term treatment to address the psychological problems associated with addiction; but like millions of other Americans he has no insurance.

Is anyone aware of any long term treatment centers that may help him?

Having just had a loved one go through this I know it can be incredibly tough. I do know that there are programs in Southern California that are long term - I believe that one is called Sobriety House in Orange County - that are truly not for profit and really do have long term - a year or so - and are very strict. You have to take the MMPI (Minnasota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and go through significant testing first, but it is free. The other thing is that - and this is really sad - court ordered drug treatment is usually done at no cost. If this person hits bottom and ends up in the system they may be in a better position to get help. The family can't save him if he won't help himself. I would also call the county to ask about resources. Good luck, I know that it can be incredibly tough.

2006-09-22 09:26:57 by john_morlock2001

Since the birthrate of American-born women is too low to sustain our growing economy, I propose The American Family Strengthening Act as an alternative to the importation of large numbers of immigrants. This act would aid American families by giving them cash grants for each child born after the act takes effect. $5,000 for the first child born, $7,000 for the second child, and $10,000 each for the third, fourth, and fifth children.

These cash grants would be restricted to families consisting of a married American woman citizen at least 18 years old who is married to an American male citizen at least 18 years old. The payment would be applied for after the child has reached the age of one year. If the child does not live to the age of one, no cash grant would be given. Children born with illnesses that are caused by maternal neglect, such as aids, drug addiction, or fetal alcohol syndrome would not be eligible for the cash grants.
We do not want to encourage woman with aids, or drug and alcohol addiction to start making babies for money.

Anyone caught fraudulently receiving a cash grant would be subject to a mandatory five to ten years in federal prison.

Any ideas to improve upon this act which I have created?
The birthrate of American woman is barely over 2.0 and I suspect that if you subtracted the birthrate of immigrant woman it would be below 2.0. Business people and politicians always use the argument that we need millions of immigrants every year because our natural population growth is too low to fill all the available jobs.
http://www.cathnews.com/news/306/149.php

the birthrate of american born women is too low to sustain our growing economy? Where did you get this information?

2007-08-26 09:57:15 by Shane