Denial - The Barrier to Alcohol and Drug Treatment in San Diego

Reprinted from Join Together - Advancing effective alcohol and drug policy, prevention and treatment
Unmet Need for Drug Treatment
October 7, 2008
Research Summary

According to data from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 82% of the estimated 7.5 million who needed treatment for an illicit drug problem in the past year did not receive it.
While there are many reasons for not receiving treatment, a primary one appears to be a lack of perceived need. Nearly all (91%) of those who were assessed as needing but did not receive treatment for illicit drug problems said that they did not feel that they needed treatment. Similar results were found for alcohol treatment.
A lack of perceived need for treatment may mean that people don’t think they have a problem, they think their problem is not serious enough to warrant treatment, or they think they can handle their substance use problem on their own.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.

COMMENTARY

Use of chemical substances has increased dramatically over the past years due to exposure through the media, increased glamorization and use of substances for recreation and availability to people of all ages. The people I see in treatment are the lucky ones. They are part of the 18% or 1,350,000 this year who did receive some form of treatment for this devastating brain disease. Why? What is the reason they are in treatment for their addictions and not others? The main reason is that they overcame their Denial. Denial is psychological term for a group of behaviors that evolve to protect oneself from reality.

Addiction is subtle in the way in takes over a person's life. Like a cancer is remains undetected until it creates severe enough problems to get your attention. Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease, and has specific symptoms in the Early, Middle and Late stages. Most people don't think they are addicted, even though they may realize that they are experiencing difficulty stopping or cutting down on a substance (alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, meth, tranquillizers, opiate pain medications, heroin and others). As denial begins, we minimize the amount we use or the consequences, and avoid anyone who might ask us why we are drinking or using more. We may feel guilty for our behavior change. For many of us, we believe we know what an alcoholic or addict looks like and acts like, and it isn't us. Our psychological defense mechanisms then attempt to avoid reality and convince others and ourselves that we don't have a problem with alcohol and drugs.

If you have had consequences related to your use, or anyone has suggested to you that you may have a problem with alcohol, marijuana, stimulants or opiates, take the quiz on our website and save yourself. No one else can do it for you.

Judy Saalinger