Another Choice, Another Chance- USA

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) new report shows 7.5 million children under age 18 (10.5 percent of this population) lived with a parent who has experienced an alcohol use disorder in the past year and 6.1 million of these children live with two parents—with either one or both parents experiencing an alcohol use disorder in the past year.

The remaining 1.4 million of these children live in a single-parent house with a parent who has experienced an alcohol use disorder in the past year.

“The enormity of the Nation’s Number one public health problem goes well beyond these tragic numbers.  Studies have shown that the children of parents with untreated alcohol disorders are at far greater risk for developing alcohol and other problems later in their lives.  Another Choice, Another Chance is playing a key role in efforts to prevent youth alcohol and drug use and addiction.

To learn more about Another Choice, Another Chance visit our website at www.acacsac.org or call 916-361-2089.

Drugs and Alcohol effects people from all walks of life, it does not make a difference of your social economic status, race, age or your geographic location, it effects us all.  But Treatment Works….

All Ages are Affected by Substance Use Disorders

Although substance use disorders are prevalent in our communities, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. In 2009, 4.3 million people aged 12 or older in the United States received treatment for a substance use disorder. Teens often use alcohol and/or drugs due to social pressures, therefore, their treatment should address both the physical dependence and overall self-worth

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Like substance use disorders, mental health problems are highly treatable, and recovery or management of the condition is possible. Mental health problems affect approximately 1 in 4 adults, or about 57.7 million Americans in a given year. An individual’s mental health refers to how the person thinks, feels, and acts, which includes our cognitive and/or emotional well-being. The most common mental health problems include various anxiety disorders and mood disorders.  Mental health problems affect people of all ages, races, genders, workplaces, geographies, and socioeconomic levels. Therefore, everyone should learn the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and how to access treatment and prevention services

Substance use and/or mental disorders can affect anyone, but prevention works, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible.

• For every $1 invested in treatment, taxpayers save at least $7.46 in costs to society.
• Less than 10 percent of people with substance use disorders receive treatment, at a societal cost of over $300 billion annually.
• Substance use disorders costs employers more than $100 billion annually through increased accidents, increased health care claims, and lost productivity.
• The annual economic cost of mental health problems is estimated to be at least $79 billion. Most of that amount—approximately $63 billion—reflects the cost of lost productivity in the workplace