A few times a week someone calls and asks for help because of an addiction they are struggling to overcome or an addiciton of a loved one. Addiction is a complex brain disease. It is a chronic disease characterized b y craving, seeking, and use that can persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. Accohol and other drug seeking behavior may become compulsive, in large part, as a result of the effects of prolonged use on brain function and on behavior.
Addiction is considered a brain disease because alcohol and other drugs change the brain - they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes canbe long lasting, and can lead to harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse alcohol and other drugs.
According to Dr. Daniel Amen, alcohol and other drugs have a significant and seriously debilitating impact on the brain. In brain image scans the brain of an addict looks like it is full of holes.
Why does this matter?
1. Unintentional drug poisioning is the leading cause of injury death in Ohio, surpassing motor vehicle crashes and suicides for the first time on record.
2. The death rate in Ohio due to unintentional drug posionings increased 350% from 327 in 1999 to 1,472 in 2008.
Now more than ever we need strong community based alcohol and drug treatment and prevention programs that are designed to keep kids from getting started on drugs and to get people into recovery who have developed an addiction.
Funding cuts to behavioral health services for some is a death sentence and for others means a lifetime of suffering and imprisonment.
Addiction is a treatable disease. Success rates for addiction treatment exceed success rates for other chronic illnesses - approximately 70% of men and women who complete treatment and attend self help groups like AA, NA, or Celebrate Recovery are likely to remain abstinent from alcohol or other drugs.
Please join with us in advocating for treatment and prevention programming. Our families and loved ones need our help!
Mike Schoenhofer
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