Important Facts

The Need For Recovery Support Services Is Great!

• One third of Tennesseans have alcohol/drug abuse in their immediate family — half have it in their extended family (Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & Other Addiction Services — TAADAS).
  
  

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated 6% of Tennesseans are dependent on alcohol, and another 2.8% are dependent on drugs. Davidson County has an estimated 50,000 uninsured persons. Of those, 11,000 need treatment for mental health disorders and 5,000-7,500 need treatment for substance abuse, according to a study by the University of Tennessee (Information source: the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities — TMDH).” The need is so great that Welcome Home Ministries receives calls on a daily basis from a variety of sources requesting our services, as previously illustrated.
  
  

• According to the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & Other Addiction Services (TAADAS), which is a statewide advocacy and provider’s association established in 1976, Tennessee ranks 48th in the United States in per capita funding for alcohol and drug treatment and recovery support services. Yet, Tennessee is ranked number one in the nation as the capitol of Methamphetamine addiction, and prescription drug addictions are on the rise (See TDMH).
  
  

• According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), “There is evidence that approximately 90 percent of alcoholics are likely to experience at least one relapse over the 4-year period following treatment. Despite some promising leads, NO CONTROLLED STUDIES DEFINITIVELY HAVE SHOWN ANY SINGLE OR COMBINED INTERVENTION THAT PREVENTS RELAPSE IN A PREDICTABLE MANNER. Thus, relapse as a central issue of alcoholism treatment warrants further study.” (Relapse and Craving — A commentary by NIAAA Director, Enoch Gordis, MD).
  
  

• RELAPSE IS A PART OF RECOVERY, especially for individuals who have suffered from this chronic illness for 20 even 30 years! Our target population fits the statistics according to the NIAAA quoted on the previous slide . Certainly, 90% of the clients we serve have relapsed, often, multiple times; and just like diabetes, hypertension and asthma, alcohol and drug addicts have periods of remission and relapse (See NIDA Treatment and Recovery: JAMA, 284:1689-1695, 2000 27), which is why long-term recovery support is greatly needed (Years of vigilant support and accountability). Note: one man in our recovery support program has been involved in our program for 8 years, and has relapsed at least 6 times; but if WHM did not reach out to the most chronically ill men who suffer from alcohol and drug addictions in Middle Tennessee, then these “Lost Sheep” would be on the streets, in jails or in emergency rooms at a much greater cost to society (TN Dept. of Mental Health — ATR statistics).
  
  

• “Several studies indicate that for people with low recovery capital and high disease severity, social supports provided by sober living communities are critically important to long-term recovery.” (Jason, Davis, Ferrari, and Bishop 2001; Jason, Davis, & Ferrari 2007 — SAMSHA). Virtually all the men who participate in WHM’s recovery support program have very low recovery capital and high disease severity. Many have battled substance abuse and addictions for many years, and have relapsed numerous times over the years.
  
  

• According to the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & Other Addiction Services (TAADAS), the total health related, criminal justice and economic cost of untreated substance abuse in Tennessee is estimated to be over $4.8 Billion annually, or approximately $767 for each man, woman and child in the State. Finally, research from Iowa State University shows that every $1 dedicated to drug and alcohol prevention saves $7- $20 in costs from crime, incarceration, emergency room care, productivity, and premature death.” (SAMHSA). In Tennessee, 89% of those involved with law enforcement at the beginning of “Access to Recovery” services, which WHM provided, there was no further criminal justice involvement while receiving ATR services.