Federal Drug-Alcohol Report Underscores Need In New York

ALBANY, NY (03/06/2008)(readMedia)-- Federal figures released today on substance abuse in the United States underscore the critical need for prevention, treatment and recovery services in New York state, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo said.

The report was issued by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), providing data on all 50 states and the District of Columbia and is available at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k6state/toc.cfm.

“Clearly, the issues facing our state and nation in alcohol and drug addiction call for strong strategies that will provide measurable results,” Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said. “As Governor Spitzer has directed, we are working to address these issues by putting people first in our partnership with more than 1,550 prevention and treatment providers across the state.”

In this past year, OASAS set forth on a strategy for prevention, treatment and recovery that incorporates a series of metrics that will foster system-wide improvements with measurable outcomes in the addictions field .

The metrics are based on five destinations, or goals, including decreasing the negative influences of addiction, implementing evidence-based practices and a Gold Standard of treatment, leading the state and nation in raising awareness, managing talent in the addictions field so that it is recognized as a “profession of choice,” and maintaining sound fiscal responsibility.

SAMSHA figures for New York estimated that close to 1.4 million New Yorkers over the age of 12 are dealing with alcohol or drug problems, a figure which actually under-represents the magnitude of the problem, said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo.

Because of the techniques used in gathering the federal figures, OASAS researchers said the federal figures do not capture all populations in New York that OASAS surveys do, and that the prevalence rate of alcohol and drug addiction in New York is actually 1.8 million.

The report issued today serves each state and the data will help tremendously in addressing these problems as OASAS researchers assess the comprehensive report, Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said, adding, “We are very committed to continue collaborating with our federal partners, sharing information, strategies and best practices.”

OASAS oversees one of the nation’s largest addiction services systems with more than 1,550 programs which treat 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day for drug, alcohol or gambling addictions. A 24-hour help line is available at 1-800-522-5353 or on the OASAS web site, www.OASAS.state.ny.us.

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