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  Home Page » Features » Columnists » Creating Community » Substance Abuse Affects Everyone

Substance abuse affects everyone

by Linda Lute
Creating Community National Drug and Alcohol Recovery Month is celebrated during September. The 2009 theme is "Together we learn, together we heal." The Recovery Month effort aims to promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug-use disorders in all their forms is possible.

Bev still remembers clearly the day she realized she had a drinking problem. She was sitting in her car in the school parking lot shaking so badly she could hardly turn the key in the ignition. The bottle of vodka she kept in her car for "courage" was empty, and she couldn't stop shaking or make the pain in her head go away.

Bev tried to control her drinking by "stopping anytime she wanted to." Soon, her friends began to fall away, citing her reckless and hurtful behavior when she was drinking, which seemed to be all of the time.

Bev entered treatment for her substance-use disorder because of her third conviction for driving under the influence at the end of her freshman year in college. While participating in treatment, she learned about recovery and how that could change her life if she chose to do so.

Bev also learned about the family dynamics of alcohol dependence and how it had been passed down in her family through each generation. She worked hard to learn and practice new ways of coping with life's ups and downs.

The true measure of recovery is the ability to engage and participate in life activities that are meaningful and fulfilling without the use of addicting substances.

According to Peter D. Hart Research Services, as many as 75 percent of Americans say addiction to alcohol had an impact on them at some point in their lives, whether it was a personal addiction, addiction of a friend or family member or other related experience.

Alcohol-use disorders frequently take an enormous toll on individuals, their families and community. Alcohol addiction affects each of us in some way. It is vital that we are aware of the financial and human costs of substance-use disorders and begin to understand the benefits that investing in treatment can have on those who enter recovery, their families and the larger community.

All of us can help ensure that treatment and recovery from substance-use disorders is attainable, affordable and effective.

Become educated on the treatment resources available in your community and where the funding sources come from to support those treatment services. Substance-use disorders present a cost to everyone - not just those directly involved.

Support those who are affected by substance-use disorders, and foster a more productive community.

For more information about specific substance-use disorders or treatment services, call New Day Counseling at 259-5820 or another local substance-use disorder treatment program.

Linda Lute, LAC, MAC is the executive vice president of Specialty Behavioral Health for Southwest Colorado Mental Health Center.