• The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

NCADD News Update

For More Information, Contact: Ames Sweet, Director of Communications 212/269-7797, ext. 16

February 24, 2006

SCIENCE OF ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION IS GREATER THAN FICTION NEW YORK, NY -- In the wake of publicity surrounding James Frey's book, A Million Little Pieces, the Medical/Scientific Committee of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) would like to reaffirm that alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases -- primary, chronic, yet treatable diseases from which people can and do recover. NCADD is the nation's oldest advocacy organization dedicated to providing information, education, help and hope to the general public regarding alcoholism and other drug dependence and its Medical/Scientific Committee is comprised of recognized experts in the field of alcoholism and addiction. Regrettably, Mr. Frey's book has presented some serious misconceptions about the science of alcoholism and addiction and has minimized the unequivocal progress that has been made in the past decade in understanding and treating these diseases. As defined by NCADD and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1992, "Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial." Mr. Frey's book is at best a novel lacking scientific basis. Recent neurobiological, genetic, pharmacological and brain imaging research have reinforced our knowledge that alcoholism and other drug dependencies are genetically predisposed brain diseases and, as such, require complex and comprehensive treatment. A recent report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) titled, Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions, notes that alcohol and other drug dependencies are treatable, chronic brain diseases and that treatment must be effectively integrated into the national health care system at all levels. Research continues to show that the disease process of addiction is similar to other common medical disorders such as Type II Diabetes, obesity, and many types of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Alcoholism and drug dependence, like other diseases, cross all societal boundaries, affect both genders, every ethnic group, and people in every tax bracket. One of America's preeminent public health issues and drug addiction are serious problems requiring medical treatment, sophisticated psychotherapies and interventions provided by licensed professionals, and the effective support systems historically found in twelve step recovery groups. "Unfortunately, Mr. Frey's book seems to point the general public back to a time when alcoholism and addiction were considered a moral failing," says Robert J. Lindsey, newly-elected NCADD President. "However, science is ultimately stronger than fiction and recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is a reality for thousands of Americans every day. "We commend the IOM in calling for reforms in alcoholism and other drug dependence treatment," concluded Dr. David Lewis, Chairman of the NCADD Board of Directors and Founder of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. "The fact that we still need to be concerned about clinical standards of practice almost forty years after the American Medical Association's recognition of alcoholism as a disease points to the continuing stigma associated with addictive illness. Alcoholism and other addictive illnesses need to receive the same level of attention, funding and professionalism as any other medical condition. The devastation of this disease demands both increased public awareness and improved quality of care - vital elements that NCADD has been advocating for over 60 years." "Having spent more than 25 years working at all levels of the alcoholism and addiction field, I have found that there is no greater privilege than bringing hope, help and recovery into the lives of individuals and families who have been affected by this disease. This is what NCADD has been doing for the last 60 years through its national office and network of Affiliate offices throughout the country. "One of our biggest challenges," continues Lindsey, "is to find ways to present scientific evidence to clear up widely held misconceptions about alcoholism and drug addiction, including the ideas that the addicted person can 'just stop' using drugs; that if someone relapses, they have failed; and the belief that treatment doesn't work." To help in this effort, NCADD is developing a national, multi-year campaign with a coalition of leading experts and organizations in the alcoholism and addiction field to educate Americans on the serious human, health, social and financial impact of alcoholism and addiction. The goal of the Hope, Help and Healing public education campaign will be to measurably reduce the $276 billion cost of addiction to American society and to change the way individuals, families, and institutions think and act when addressing alcoholism and drug dependence. Alcoholism and other drug dependencies strain the health care system, the economy, harm family life and threaten public safety. This is not a matter of fiction. Alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases, diseases from which people can and do recover. ### As the oldest advocacy organization in the United States addressing alcoholism and drug dependence, NCADD works at the national level on policy issues related to barriers in education, prevention and treatment for alcoholics and other drug dependent persons and their families. With a nationwide network of Affiliates, NCADD provides education, information, help and hope to the public. For more information, visit: www.ncadd.org.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

244 East 58th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022 phone: 212/269-7797   fax: 212/269-7510 email: national@ncadd.org   http://www.ncadd.org HOPE LINE: 800/NCA-CALL (24-hour Affiliate referral)