A survey among 801 adults nationwide Conducted April 19 22, 2004


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A survey among 801 adults nationwideConducted
April 19 22 2004
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Addictions Impact Is Widespread
How much impact has addiction to alcohol or drugs
had on your life (addiction of friend family
member yourself or other experience)
No impact
Not sure
Great deal/some impact
Great deal of impact
Under 50K incomeOver 50K income
WhitesNonwhites Non-college graduatesCollege gr
aduates
7059 6264 6756
Not much impact
63
Nearly four in ten Americans (39) say they have
a family member or close friend in recovery.
Some impact
3
Public Knows Addiction Strikes Many

• A majority of Americans (53) believe that one in
  four (or more) people in the U.S. are currently
  addicted to alcohol or other drugs.
  
• 27 believe that one in four (or more) people in
  the U.S. are in recovery.

4
Strong Evidence OfStigma And Discrimination
People addicted to alcohol or other drugs
85
People in recovery from addiction to alcohol or
other drugs
75
5
Public Sees Discrimination As a Problem
Not much of a problem
People in recovery being denied a job or
promotion People in recovery being denied medica
l life other insurance People in recovery bein
g denied government-backed student loans
80
75
52
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Strong Evidence OfStigma And Discrimination

• 27 of adults say they would be less likely to
  hire a qualified job candidate who is in
  recovery.
  
• 43 of Americans say they would be less likely to
  vote for a gubernatorial candidate who is in
  recovery.

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Public Sees Problems of Lack Of Treatment and
Discrimination
Lack of treatment/recovery programs for
alcohol/drug addiction
Discrimination against people in recovery from
alcohol/drug addiction
61
53
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Public Calls For Changes In Laws And Attitudes
People are ashamed to talk to others about their
own/familys addiction Students with drug convi
ction are banned from receiving federal aid for
college People seeking help for addiction pay hig
her health insurance than people with other
chronic diseases Companies are less likely to hir
e people if they know they are in recovery from
addiction to alcohol or drugs
74
67
65
65
9
Support For PoliciesLikelihood Of Voting For
Candidate Who Supports Each
Lesslikely
Spending in war on drugs greater emphasis on
prevention education treatment
Expand Drug Courts/prison drug treatment
Change laws so people in recovery not
discriminated against Law requiring health insura
nce to handle addiction same as other medical
conditions Increase federal funding to prevent/tr
eat addiction support research
Tougher criminal penalties for drug use stronger
enforcement
81
81
77
76
75
57
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Public Conflicted On Disease Versus Weakness
Addiction to alcohol/drugsis primarily
Disease/health problem
MenWomen ConservativesModeratesLiberals Under
50KOver 50K Addiction/great impactAddiction/
no impact
Know someone in recovery
3958 405261 4458 5044 54
Disease/ health problem
Personal/moralweakness
Both equally
All adults
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Publics Perception Of In Recovery
When you hear the word recovery as in This
person is in recovery from an addiction what
does recovery mean
Person is free from addiction/no longer uses
alcohol or drugs Person is trying to stop using a
lcohol or drugs Person has been damaged by alcoh
ol/ drugs Person has mental illness
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Public Doubts The Effectiveness Of Treatment
Do the majority of those who seek treatment for
addiction to alcohol or drugs achieve life-long
recovery
No
Yes
Notsure
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Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Addiction affects one in ten people/one in four
kids Recovery takes time patience support must
never give up Breaking addiction cycle critical
to healthy society easier to treat in early
stages Helping achieve long-term recovery saves i
n health care costs crime toll on family
Discrimination against people in recovery
unfair/ makes it harder for them
Millions in long-term recovery living proof of
real solution
N/A
79
N/A
74
63
84
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Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a disease
that affects as many as one in ten Americans.
Beyond that as many as one in four American
children are affected by parents or family
members with an addiction.
N/A

• This argument gains broad support across all
  demographic groups but the message doesnt
  take us far.

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Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Recovery from addiction to alcohol and other
drugs takes time patience and support. There
are many ways that people get the help they need
and we can never give up on helping family
mem-bers and friends reclaim their lives.
79

• This argument gains support across the
  spectrum especially among people who have
  been greatly impacted by addiction.

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Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Breaking the cycle of addiction is critical to a
healthy society. It is easier and less costly to
treat abuse before it becomes an addiction and
to treat addiction in its early stages.
N/A

• This is the highest-ranking message among
  conservatives.

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Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Millions of Ameri-cans are in long-term recovery
from al-cohol and other drug addiction and tens
of thousands more get well every year. They are
living proof that recovery is happen-ing and
that there is a real solution to the problem of
drug and alcohol addiction.

• This is the most important message among the
  recovery community and it addresses
  important public concerns and misperceptions.

84
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A survey among 801 adults nationwideConducted
April 19 22 2004