FOLLOW UP ON THE ADDICTION PROGRAM
September 2010
More and more research is now showing that one reason many substance abusers have so many setbacks is that they also have an untreated, co-occurring psychiatric illness. In fact, approximately 21 percent of the American adults living with a serious mental illness abused or were dependent upon alcohol or an illicit substance, compared to 7.9 percent of adults without a serious mental illness, according to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
According to a report published by the Journal of the American Medical Association:
- 37% of alcohol abusers and 53% of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.
- Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29% abuse either alcohol or drugs.
The July Advocacy meeting covered portions of a very interesting and informative series. “Addiction” is HBO’s groundbreaking documentary helping Americans understand addiction as a treatable brain disease, and spotlighting new medical advancements…
The feature-length documentary film “Addiction” is the centerpiece of the Addiction project. Bringing together the nation’s leading experts with award-winning filmmakers, it consists of nine separate segments, including: “Saturday Night in a Dallas ER,” by Jon Alpert; “A Mother’s Desperation,” by Susan Froemke and Albert Maysles; “The Science of Relapse,” by Eugene Jarecki and Susan Froemke; “The Adolescent Addict,” by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner; “Brain Imaging,” by Liz Garbus and Rory Kennedy; “Opiate Addiction: A New Medication,” by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus; “Topiramate: A Clinical Trial for Alcoholism,” by Alan and Susan Raymond; “Steamfitters Local Union 638,” by Barbara Kopple; and “Insurance Woes,” by Susan Froemke. “Addiction” is produced by John Hoffman and Susan Froemke; executive produced by Sheila Nevins.
The entire series is available for free viewing on your computer at http://www.addictionaction.org/watch/.