Treatment Facts

In the U.S., $414 Billion is spent each year on substance abuse. 

Only 1 out of 10 seeking drug treatment actually receive it.

Over 600 scientific studies conclude that

drug treatment is effective.

For every additional dollar invested in drug treatment, the taxpayer saves $7.46 in cost to society.

(Addiction Treatment: When Knowing the Facts Can Help IRETA)

Treatment effectiveness ranges from 40 to 80 percent depending on numerous variables.

(Robert Woods Johnson Foundation)

Relapse rates for treatment of alcohol, opiates, and cocaine are less than those for hypertension and asthma, and equivalent to those of diabetes, all chronic conditions.

( Myths about the Treatment of Addiction, The Lancet, 347)

The Methamphetamine Treatment Project                                                          This is a multi-site initiative to study the treatment of methamphetamine dependence. Jointly implemented by the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP), and the Matrix Institute on Addictions, its goal is to generate knowledge regarding how a new comprehensive treatment protocol developed by Matrix can be effectively transferred to the community drug treatment system. The project is funded by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).  

On this web site, you can find information about the project, results when they become available, as well as general information on methamphetamine abuse and treatment and links to other useful sites.

Methamphetamine

Costs of Untreated Addiction:

The following statistics indicate one primary reason why we need to educate our legislators about the need for treatment funding.  We know that treatment is the key for overcoming addiction.  However, that "key" needs our help to unlock the doors of our state and federal budgets.  We must make our voices heard in our state and federal capitols so that our children can get the treatment they need.  The funds are shrinking every year.  Treatment works and recovery is a reality.

Compliance rates for alcohol, opiates, and cocaine treatment are greater than compliance rates for hypertension and asthma.

 (Myths about the treatment of addiction, The Lancet , 347)

In 2001, about 70 percent of patients who had medical conditions related to their addictions and received both medical care and drug treatment were abstinent six months after leaving treatment.

(Weisner, C. Mertens, J. Parthasarathy, S. More,  2001 Journal of the American Medical Association, 286)

Recent cost-benefit studies find that benefits to society (ie., decreased crime, improved health, increased overall social functioning) are greater than the costs of addiction treatment.

(Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Substance Abuse Treatment: Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography)

Costs of untreated alcohol and drug abuse:

 

Total available funding for drug treatment:  $12.6 BILLION
 

"Substance abuse is a national public health problem that causes impaired health, harmful behaviors, and major economic and social burdens... but there are effective medical and public health approaches to the problem." --Adolescent Substance Abuse: A Public Health Priority, Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy
 

Drug treatment is proven to cut drug use in half, reduce crime by 80 percent, and reduce arrests by 64 percent.

(Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 1997)

The cost of drug treatment is 15 times less than the cost of incarcerating a person for a drug -related crime.

(PLNDP and Join together, 2000)

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