US alcohol and drug addiction hits 23m, expert states

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Home » News » Alcohol » US alcohol and drug addiction hits 23m, expert states

by Change | 15 Sep 2009

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Many are not taking up addiction recovery due to its cost, expert comments.

Some 23 million Americans are addicted to alcohol or drugs, it has been revealed.

According to Victor Capoccia, director of the Closing the addiction treatment Gap initiative, only one in ten people in the US suffering from substance addiction visit alcoholic rehab facilities or drug abuse counselling.

Many addicts are unable to afford treatment for their illness and so do not attend rehab centres.

Mr Capoccia said: "Ignoring any disease - be it addiction, diabetes or hypertension - is bad medicine and should not be an option in today's healthcare system.

"addiction treatment should be fully covered by all insurance plans."
He added that the cost of treating ill health caused by addiction is much higher than effective addiction treatment.

In other news, a social networking website is to run a rally in Miami to encourage drug and alcohol addiction recovery.

InTheRooms will hold the event to allow recovered addicts to celebrate their sobriety together at Bicentennial Park on Saturday (September 19th), the Miami Herald reports.

The rally will see performances from Eric Burdon and The Animals and former Aerosmith guitarist Richie Supa, who has written a song called In The Rooms that is dedicated to the addiction recovery service.

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