LAKE COUNTY – The Board of Supervisors has declared September as Recovery Month, and the county's Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) department is sharing information with the public about the financial and personal benefits of substance abuse treatment and recovery.

Investing in treatment for substance use disorders is necessary to ensure the health and well-being of our community. Research shows that substance use disorders are medical conditions. In fact, treatments for drug use disorders are just as effective as treatments for other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes.

More than 72 medical conditions have risk factors that can be attributed to substance use. Investing in treatment programs for people with substance use disorders can prevent the onset of long-term medical conditions, ultimately saving lives and decreasing long-term costs.

However, nearly 23 million Americans needed but did not receive treatment for alcohol or drug use in 2005, and interestingly, almost 77 percent of adults classified with substance dependence or abuse were employed.

Many people may not realize that investing in treatment saves money for businesses and the community in the long run. For example, treatment is cost effective, with some measurements showing a benefit-to-cost ratio of up to 7:1, with substance use disorder treatment costing $1,583 per person on average and having a monetary benefit to society of nearly $11,487 for each person treated.

Investing in treatment can have significant effects on employment and the viability of employers and businesses in the community. Treatment is associated with a 19-percent increase in employment and an 11-percent decrease in the number of clients who receive welfare.

Reported job problems, including incomplete work, absenteeism, tardiness, work-related injuries, mistakes, and disagreements with supervisors, are cut by an average of 75 percent among employees who have received treatment for substance use disorders.

Combined data from 2004 and 2005 state that among people who needed treatment for a substance use disorder, didn’t receive it at a specialty facility, and felt they needed it, 35 percent said they did not receive it because of cost and insurance barriers. These statistics apply to Lake County as well.

In the United States, 22.2 million people suffer from substance use disorders, and countless numbers of those are unable to receive the same health care options as someone with other chronic disorders, such as diabetes.

We owe it to our family, friends, and community to support treatment and recovery as effective ways to address substance use disorders. Employers, insurers, and the decision makers of Lake County must understand the financial impact substance use disorders have on our community and the importance of access to treatment and recovery support for those who need it.

When doors are open to recovery, more people will seek treatment for substance use disorders to reclaim their lives and health and to reintegrate into the community. For example, Lake County Alcohol and AODS in Lake County works to inform our residents of the importance of treatment and encourages people to share their personal stories of having a substance use disorder and the benefits of recovery.

To promote the hopeful and healing message of recovery, Lake County AODS  is participating in the 18th annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, a nationwide initiative every September supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Lake County AODS is holding a variety of exciting and educational events in September to coincide with this year’s Recovery Month theme: “Join the Voices for Recovery: Saving Lives, Saving Dollars.”

On Sept. 15 AODS is hosting, along with staff from the Mental Health Department, New Beginnings, Lake Family Resource Center and other community organizations that help recovering addicts, a march for recovery and community picnic in Clearlake.

The march will begin in Redbud Park at 11 a.m. They will march to Austin Park where there will be a picnic, speakers and other activities for families to enjoy.

By participating in Recovery Month, you are supporting those already in recovery and encouraging those in need of help to seek treatment. Learning about these issues will make it easier to break down barriers to treatment, and you will be investing in the best interests of our community.

For more information about these events or for information about treatment services please call Carrie White, prevention specialist at AODS, 263-8162.

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