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The economic cost is staggering, estimated at nearly $7 billion annually in Oklahoma and $414 billion nationwide. Annual costs of substance abuse in Oklahoma are nearly $2 billion for expenses related to health care, public safety, social services, costs to business, and property loss. Another $5 billion in costs is related to lost productivity. In Oklahoma, drug and alcohol addiction contributes to 85 percent of all homicides, 80 percent of all prison incarcerations, 75 percent of all divorces, 65 percent of all child abuse cases, 55 percent of all domestic assaults, 50 percent of all traffic fatalities, 35 percent of all rapes, and 33 percent of all suicides.

The ODMHSAS estimates that nearly 140,000 Oklahomans over age 18--about 5 percent of the population--need treatment for alcohol addiction. Another 1 percent--about 21,000 people--need treatment for other types of drug addiction. Nearly 6 percent of the state's 323,000 adolescents--approximately 20,000 teenagers--need treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. Statewide, alcohol addiction surpasses drug addiction by an average of 7.5 to one, meaning that for every person needing drug treatment, more than seven people need alcohol treatment.

Many individuals that experience substance use disorders started using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs at an early age, many as early as 9 or 10.

Please be an advocate for the health and wellness of these individuals, our families and our communities as a whole. If you know of anyone that might have a problem with these substances, please contact a treatment center in your area, Gateway at 405-273-1170, or the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at www.odmhsas.org or 405-522-3809

Get connected with Gateway by following us through Facebook:

Facebook (www.facebook.com) lets users create their own sets of "friends" among whom they share brief updates, photos, links, or other information. Similarly, Gateway's Facebook Page offers users a place to follow updates in the Behavioral Health Field and share information.

Gateway Mission... to reduce addiction, mental health issues, and related family problems. Gateway's philosophy is... that chemical dependency is a primary, progressive and, unless treated, terminal disease. What we do.... Gateway to Prevention and Recovery has multiple programs that include Substance Abuse Prevention and Co-occurring Treatment. Gateway is committed to overall Health and Wellness for all Oklahomans. Treatment.... A certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Treatment Program since 1985, Gateway provides outpatient counseling to more than 1,100 clients annually through offices in Shawnee, Chandler, Boley (John H. Lilley Correctional Center) and McLoud (Mabel Basset Correctional Center). Treatment services are provided based on an assessment of client need. Payment is determined using a sliding fee scale and services are provided regardless of the ability to pay. Gateway, in partnership with the Shawnee Public Schools, provides a Student Assistance Program to work with students and staff at the Shawnee Middle School and Shawnee High School. Gateway provides: Screening, Assessments, Referral Individual and Family Counseling for Behavioral Health Issues Aftercare Groups Specialized Court-ordered Services Adolescent Assessments and Counseling Trauma Recovery Services Treatment for Gambling Addiction Education/Support for the entire family

New National Report Shows Differences in the Types and Levels of Substance Use and Mental Illness Problems Experienced by the States

Study provides trend data about increases and decreases in behavioral health problems experienced among the states

A new report providing state-by-state analyses of substance abuse and mental illness patterns reveals that despite wide variations among the states in the types and levels of behavioral health problems they experience -- every state suffers from these problems. For example, among those aged 12 and older, Iowa had less than one third the current illicit drug use rate of Rhode Island (4.1 percent vs. 13.3 percent) – yet Iowa’s population aged 12 and older was among the group of states with the nation’s highest levels of people participating in binge drinking in the past month (27.2 percent).

The report provides state public health authorities and service providers with useful information on a wide range of substance use and mental illness issues affecting their states. The report is part of SAMHSA’s strategic initiative on data, outcomes, and quality – an effort to inform policy makers and service providers on the nature and scope of behavioral health issues.

Among the report’s other notable findings:

· Cigarette use by adolescents has decreased in 35 states since 2002 -- no increases in cigarette smoking were observed in any state during this period.

· Minnesota had the nation’s highest rate of past year dependence on, or abuse of, alcohol among those age 12 or older (10 percent), while Kentucky had the lowest (5.7 percent).

· Nine of the ten states having the highest levels of past month illicit drug use among persons age 12 or older also had the highest levels of past month marijuana use (in alphabetical order -- Alaska, Colorado, District of Columbia, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington).

· Thirteen states showed significant declines in past year cocaine use among persons age 12 or older from 2006-2007 (in alphabetical order -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming).

· Wyoming had the nation’s highest rate of adolescents aged 12 to 17 experiencing a major depressive episode in the past year (10.0 percent) while Maryland had the lowest (7.0 percent).

“This report provides valuable insight into the exact nature and scope of the behavioral health problems affecting each state, and should help state public health authorities determine the most effective ways of addressing them,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. "These findings remind us that reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness is a national challenge and as we work to reform health care behavioral health services are part of the solution in every state.”

The full report is available online at: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8state/toc.cfm

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New National Report Shows Differences in the Types and Levels of Substance Use and Mental Illness Problems Experienced by the States