Addiction: Who Suffers? Who Pays?

Helene M.CrossPresident/CEO

Fairbanks

INFLUENCE - April 30, 2008

Women and Addiction

4.4 million (17%) U.S. women over the age of 59 are addicted to nicotine

1.8 million (7%) abuse alcohol

2.8 million (11%) abuse prescription drug

Women and Addiction

Women over the age of 59 are more likely to be hospitalized for health problems related to substance abuse than for heart attacks.

The substance abuse health issues and accidents these women suffer from will result in $100 billion a year in 10 years.

U.S. Data

One in four people between the ages of 15-54 have a substance abuse problem.

Since 1999, the deaths attributable to alcohol and drugs has grown steadily in the U.S., over dose mortality has grown 60%.

U.S. Data

One in four children live in a home where alcohol is abused.

In 2003, an estimated 34 million people, aged 12+ used an illegal drug during the past year.

Medicare/Medicaid

Medicare hospital admissions of women over the age of 59 for ailments or injuries caused by substance abuse is 3x the rate of admissions for non-substance abuse related heart attacks.

Medicaid admissions of women over the age of 59 is more than 4x the rate of admissions.

College Students

38% of college students abuse or are dependent on alcohol.

44% of college students reported binge drinking at least 2x a month. 1/3 are women.

Binge drinkers experience a higher percentage of alcohol-related problems such as disciplinary problems, violence, irresponsible sexual activity, personal injury and academic performance.

Indiana Data

In 2004, 27% of 12-20 year olds used alcohol.

In 2004, 1 in 10 Hoosiers used Marijuana.

30% of Marion County 8th Graders used Marijuana.

In 2001, 47% of homicides were related to alcohol

Indiana Data

Alcohol abuse is the most significant substance abuse problem in Indiana.

Indiana’s estimated rate of abuse exceeds that of the nation for prescription pain relievers, especially in 12-25 year olds.

What are the Costs?

Every person in the US pays approximately $1000 per year for unnecessary health care, extra law enforcement, auto crashes, crime and lost productivity resulting from untreated addiction.

What are the Costs?

Alcohol are Drugs are leading factors in:

40% of Homelessness 38% of Child Abuse & Neglect 50% of Domestic Violence Disputes 50% of Auto Accidents 62% of Aggravated Assaults

Do you see RED?

Symptoms

A Hidden Disease

Substance abuse and addiction is hidden in the shame, embarrassment and denial of those who struggle with it.

Physicians fail to identify substance abuse or addiction, some simply ignore it because they don’t believe anything can be done.

A Hidden Disease

Addiction is hidden in the diseases and injuries it spawns.

Including : Cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, hypertension, strokes, pneumonia, kidney failure, asthma, bronchitis and hip fractures.

Related Costs

In 1998, of the $10 billion in acute care hospital charges resulting from substance abuse and addiction in women over the age of 59, 98% ($9.8 billion) was spent to treat the illnesses and injuries that are the consequence of abuse and addiction.

Only 2% is spent to treat substance abuse and addiction.

Undiscovered - Untreated

Less than one percent of doctors identified a classic profile of an alcoholic woman as having an alcohol problem.

Undiscovered - Untreated

Few caregivers, families and friends spot the symptoms of substance abuse and addiction; fewer know what to do when they spot these symptoms.

Physicians survey revealed that less than 1% look for substance abuse and addiction.

Undiscovered - Untreated

When physicians identify a woman as a substance abuser, 1 in 5 report that managed care organizations or insurance companies have refused to cover the cost of referrals for counseling or treatment.

Some caregivers and family are deaf to the sounds of trouble, or they don’t realize that there is treatment.

Living with the Wolf

Consequences of Not Treating

School failure

Infant mortality or low birth weight

Child abuse

Other health issues or death

Consequences of Not Treating

Abuse and depression are also related.

At any age, alcoholic females are twice as likely as non-alcoholic females to be depressed and almost four times as likely than male alcoholics to be depressed.

Can we Eliminate Addiction?

No, We Can’t!!!

Addiction cannot be eliminated.

Addiction is a Chronic Disease

Prevention & Treatment is the Answer

For millions of people the problem of substance abuse and addiction can be prevented and treated.

What can we prevent and when do we treat?

Two groups of people

Those who abuse alcohol and illegal drugs

Those who have the biological and genetic predisposition to addiction.

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Educate the abusers:

Overdrinking can result in an accident.

Illegal drug possession can result in arrest and conviction.

Both can cause brain injury and other health issues, including addiction.

Alcoholism & Drug Addiction

The second group, an estimated 1 in 20 people have a genetic link to the disease.

They have a chronic brain disease.

Other chronic diseases include diabetes, hypertension and asthma.

Symptoms of Alcoholism Primary symptoms of alcoholism:

Craving

Loss of Control

Physical dependence

Tolerance

What can be done for some one who is alcohol or drug dependent?

Treatment and Recovery Management

Professional medical help and treatment.

Detoxification, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, medication, and counseling.

Tools for recovery management.

12-Step program and other supports.

Often Treatment Doesn’t Occur

23 million Americans drug or alcohol dependent in 2006, only 2.5 million (11%) received treatment.

1.8 million women 59+ who needed treatment for alcoholism, less than 11,000 received it.

Only 25% of students who were alcohol abusers, and 6% of students who were alcohol dependent, got treatment while in college.

Often Treatment Doesn’t Occur

Some of the factors why individuals don’t get treatment: They don’t know that alcohol and drug

dependence is a brain disease Lack of knowledge about treatment Cost/insufficient insurance coverage Low investment in treatment with

government dollars

Close the Treatment Gap Yet, for every dollar invested in addictions

treatment, the taxpayer saves $7.46 in societal costs (including the cost of incarceration.)

Substance abuse treatment cuts drug use in half, reduces criminal activity up to 80%, and reduces arrests up to 64%.

The cost of treatment is 15 times less than the cost of incarcerating a person for a drug-related crime.

Take action promoting intervention, prevention and

treatment.

Sources Under the Rug: Substance Abuse and the Mature Woman, June

1998 the National Center and Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA)

Substance Abuse and Mental health Service Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov

Alcohol abuse and Dependency among US College Students, Journal of Studies on Alcohol (2002)

Controlling Cocaine Supply VX. Demand Program, RAND Drug Policy Research Center (1994).

Cost Effectiveness and Cost Benefit Analysis of Substance Abuse Treatments, IRETA 2003

PLNDP and Join Together: A Physician’s Guide on How to Advocate for More Effective national and State Drug Policies. (January 2002)

2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health The Consumption and Consequences of Alcohol, Tobacco, and

Drugs in Indiana; A State Epidemiological Profile 2007 A Community at Risk, Drug Free Marion County, 4th Edition