According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2006, 23.6 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem (9.6 percent of the persons aged 12 or older).  Of these, only 2.5 million—10.8 percent of those who needed treatment—received it at a specialty facility.  These are dire statistics, considering that each year since the early 1980’s, not only has the number of drug and alcohol residential treatment facilities increased dramatically, the internet has provided an ease and accessibility for locating programs designed to provide recovery from substance abuse.  The resources for alcohol treatment especially are now not only plentiful, but also no longer viewed with the same kind of shameful connotation they once were.

Why then are 89.2% of those who struggle with alcohol abuse or chemical dependency not seeking treatment?  No one knows for sure, but experts believe that a lack of private funds, health insurance or public assistance beds, coupled with the obvious cognitive and motivational debilitation that comes with drug and alcohol abuse, prove deadly impediments to entering recovery for those who in fact are in desperate need of it.   For those who are financially capable of funding their own treatment, certainly the opportunities are now abundant.  Health insurance unfortunately has, over the years, increasingly limited benefits for chemical dependency or alcohol treatment.  State or County funded beds in residential programs, even those designed for short term care, are scarce and the waiting lists to secure one of these beds are long.

The fiduciary component of entering drug and alcohol treatment is only compromised more by physical, environmental and social impediments.  Those who are struggling with alcohol or drug addiction are, obviously, often experiencing any number of ancillary problems, either caused by or at least aggravated by their addiction.   Because of their intoxication or abuse, alcohol or drug dependent individuals are often limited in their cognitive or rational functioning.   Many spend a significant time in denial of their disease.  Friends and family may either be unwilling or unable to help.  Often it is not until a “crisis” event or some sort of intervention occurs that help is even sought.

Fortunately, there is hope.  As the number of centers for alcohol treatment and drug addiction recovery grow, so does the awareness of help available.  Internet websites, local and national outreach by drug and alcohol treatment center professionals and media attention increasingly focused on celebrities entering rehab facilities are all easing the sharing of information on addiction treatment resources.  Hopefully the word will grow increasingly stronger and the percentage of those who need help and actually receive it, will as well.