September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month and is promoted nationally by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
The theme for 2012 is “Join the Voices for Recovery: It’s Worth It,” which emphasizes that while the road to recovery may be difficult, the benefits of preventing and overcoming mental and/or substance use disorders are significant and valuable to individuals, families, and communities.
Because of the high incidence of drug and alcohol abuse in the region, the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is backing the month-long remembrance of those in need of help.
According to Harry Bradley, a counselor supervisor with the SEARHC Gunaanastí Bill Brady Healing Center, the purpose of recovery months is two-fold.
“The first is to support and encourage people in recovery as well as their families and friends,” he said. “The second is to increase the community’s awareness and understanding of the agencies and support services that are available to assist and provide prevention services, substance abuse treatment, mental health care and community support. During the month of September, we hope to have as many individuals, agencies and schools involved as possible in these scheduled community-wide events.”
According to the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics, between 2006-08, Alaska Natives had an alcohol-induced death rate about three times as high as non-natives. Alaska consistently has had an alcohol-induced death rate more than twice that of the rest of the United States, and Alaska Natives account for almost half of these deaths.
The 2011 state-sponsored Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey estimates 20.8 percent of Alaska adults have binged on alcohol in the past month and 7.4 percent are heavy/chronic users. In 2010, Alaska jumped from 11th to second in the state-by-state rankings for binge drinking. The estimated 15.5 percent of Southeast Alaska adults who have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol is more than double the U.S. rate.
In 2009, Alaska ranked fourth in illicit drug use, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. National research shows that substance abuse is indicated in 70 percent of all cases of child abuse, and 80 percent of the adults behind bars are there because of drug or alcohol related crime.
To help people in their recovery, SEARHC offers three residential substance abuse treatment centers in Sitka — Yéil Jeeyáx Raven’s Way for adolescents ages 13-18, Gunaanastí Bill Brady Healing Center for adults and Déilee Hít Safe Harbor House for women.
SEARHC provides outpatient alcohol and substance abuse treatment through its Haa Toowóo Náakw Hít behavioral health clinic in Sitka, its Juneau Behavioral Health Clinic, and through the Community Family Services program in nine communities — Angoon, Craig, Haines, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Kake, Klawock, Klukwan and Petersburg.
Reader Comments(0)