Fighting abuse through education

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The No. 1 reason people in Missouri seek rehabilitation for addiction is alcohol. Years ago Jacki Johnson was one of those people.

"I never drank normally. I don't think I ever knew what that was," Johnson said.

Through her recovery, Johnson said she learned, like many others, that her recovery struggle was not uncommon.

"I was always quitting. But I just never went through with it - it was just the vicious cycle of addiction."

Mark Stringer, director of the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, said the division's goal is to help educate the community about the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse and help ensure there are services for the addict when they are ready for it.

"When people seek treatment they are desperate," he said. "They call an agency wanting to get in a place for treatment.

"If people do not get the treatment within 48 hours, the crisis is over and they go back to drinking or using drugs."

Stringer said on Dec. 5, 2007, there were 3,000 people on waiting lists across the state to get into a rehabilitation program.

Despite the large demand for services, that is hard to meet, Stringer said. Prevention and education play a role in the work of the division to help prevent addiction in the first place.

"We absolutely know we do not have the resources to meet the need for treatment," he said. "We also know we work diligently to help people get treatment and to educate and hopefully prevent problems for our youths and adults."

Dispelling myths, fighting stigma, reinforcing the dangers of drinking and using drugs while pregnant, and educating parents and youths about the true prevalence of drinking in the state are all programs Stinger and his staff work with.

The state has come a long way in fighting alcohol use among youths.

"Most kids do not drink and do not do drugs," Stringer said.

A 13-university coalition, headed at the University of Missouri-Columbia, reported in 2003 that 47 percent of college-aged youths were binge drinking. That number has fallen to 33 percent.

While Johnson said finding and working on an active recovery program was key for her, she feels the ongoing prevention efforts can help others from the cycle of addiction she and her family experienced.

"My family had a history of alcoholism, we just never talked about it. And maybe being open and honest would have helped me," she said.

Stringer said treating addiction has come a long way.

"We are at the point with treating addiction that treating depression was 30 years ago before antidepressants came out," he said. "A medication was found that helped people deal with their depression. We are finding there are medications on the market to help battle addiction - and they are working.

"With the advent of antidepressants, depression became a mainstream illness that could be treated and treated well."

Through the encouragement of a co-worker and the support of her boss at the time, Johnson said she finally realized she was ready for recovery.

"Once I made up my mind the cravings were gone, then the work on me began," she said. "There is hope for everyone battling addiction, they just have to take the first step."

April is Alcohol Awareness Month.

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