[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 97 (Monday, July 24, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6734-H6735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEAS OF NATIONAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG RECOVERY 
                                 MONTH

  Mr. HORN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 371) supporting the goals and ideas 
of National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 371

       Whereas 26 million Americans currently suffer the ravages 
     of drug or alcohol addiction;
       Whereas 85 percent of all crimes are tied to drug or 
     alcohol addiction;
       Whereas American taxpayers incurred more than $150 billion 
     in drug-related criminal and medical costs in 1997 alone--
     more than they spent on education, transportation, 
     agriculture, energy, space, and foreign aid combined;
       Whereas every dollar invested in drug and alcohol treatment 
     yields seven dollars in savings in health care costs, 
     criminal justice costs, and lost productivity costs from job 
     absenteeism, injuries, and subpar work performance;
       Whereas treatment for addiction is as effective as 
     treatments for other chronic medical conditions, such as 
     diabetes and high blood pressure;
       Whereas adolescents who undergo addiction treatment report 
     less use of marijuana, less heavy drinking, and less criminal 
     involvement;
       Whereas other benefits of adolescent addiction treatment 
     include better psychological adjustment and improved school 
     performance after treatment;
       Whereas a number of organizations and individuals dedicated 
     to fighting addiction and promoting treatment and recovery 
     will recognize September 2000 as National Alcohol and Drug 
     Addiction Recovery Month;
       Whereas National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 
     celebrates the tremendous strides taken by individuals who 
     have undergone successful treatment and recognizes those in 
     the treatment field who have dedicated their lives to helping 
     people recover from addiction; and
       Whereas the 2000 national campaign focuses on supporting 
     adolescents in addiction treatment and recovery, embraces the 
     theme of ``Recovering Our Future: One Youth at a Time'', and 
     seeks to increase awareness about alcohol and drug addiction 
     and to promote treatment and recovery for adolescents and 
     adults: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress supports the goals and ideas 
     of National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Horn) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HORN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Con. Res. 371.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HORN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad).
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Horn) for yielding me this time, and for his strong effective 
leadership in this area.
  Madam Speaker, I stand before this body today as a personal testament 
to the fact that chemical dependency treatment works. As a grateful 
recovering alcoholic of 19 years, I know firsthand the value of 
treatment and the blessings of recovery. So with deep humility and much 
gratitude, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution 
commemorating National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
  For a number of years, several organizations and people dedicated to 
addiction treatment and recovery have recognized September as National 
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. This September, special 
attention will focus on adolescents, young people dealing with 
addiction, and the theme will be ``Recovering Our Future: One Youth at 
a Time.''
  As a Nation, Madam Speaker, we must recover our future by addressing 
addiction. We must recover our youth one young person at a time.
  The tragic reality is that today in America 26 million people are 
addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Twenty-six million Americans suffer 
the ravages of addiction. This disease, Madam Speaker, is afflicting 
people of all ages. Among youth ages 12 to 17, an estimated 1.1 
million; ages 12 to 17, 1.1 million young people are dependent on 
illicit drugs. Another 1 million young people ages 12 to 17, are 
addicted to alcohol.
  Young people ages 16 and 17 have the second highest rate of drug use 
in the country today, second only to people ages 18 to 20. And by the 
time these young people reach 17 years of age, over one-half of all 
young people know a drug dealer. Madam Speaker, over one-half of all 
people by the time they reach 17 know some drug dealer in America.
  In 1999, more than half of our Nation's 12th graders use drugs and 
more than one-quarter used a drug other than marijuana. In other words, 
a so-called hard drug. And although alcohol consumption is illegal in 
this country for those under 21, some 10.5 million juveniles between 
the ages of 12 and 20 are consumers of alcohol.
  Madam Speaker, addiction is truly a crisis of epidemic proportions in 
America. Addiction is the number one health and crime problem facing 
our country. Alcohol and drug addiction, in economic terms alone, cost 
the American people last year $246 billion. That is billion with a 
``B.'' American taxpayers paid over $150 billion for drug-related 
criminal and medical costs alone; more than they spent on education, 
transportation, agriculture, energy, space, and foreign aid combined.
  But, Madam Speaker, it does not have to be this way. The future of 
our children and the future of millions of other Americans can be 
saved, can be recovered. Like other diseases, addiction can be treated 
and all the empirical data done show that treatment for addiction 
works.
  In 1956, the American Medical Association told the American people 
that chemical addiction is a disease and a fatal disease if not 
properly treated. In fact, leading physicians at that time found that 
chemical addiction conforms to the expectations for chronic illness and 
that relapse rates after treatment for addiction compare favorably with 
those for three other chronic diseases: adult on-set diabetes, 
hypertension, and adult asthma. The relapse rates for people treated 
for chemical addiction is essentially the same as those three diseases.
  It is well documented that every dollar spent for treatment saves $7 
in health care costs, criminal justice costs and lost productivity from 
job absenteeism, injuries and sub-par work performance.
  A number of studies have shown that health care costs alone are 100 
percent higher for untreated alcoholics and addicts than for people 
like me, recovering people who have received treatment.
  Madam Speaker, the goal of this resolution is to increase awareness 
about alcohol and drug addiction and promote treatment and recovery for 
more people, more people who are suffering the ravages of alcohol and 
drug addiction. Increasing awareness about the ravages of addiction is 
absolutely critical. How can it be that among 12th graders in America, 
less than two-thirds find anything wrong with smoking marijuana?
  Equally alarming, only 47 percent of adolescents between 12 and 17 
believe that having five or more drinks once or twice a week is any 
risk at all. Only two-thirds believe that having four or five drinks 
every day is a problem. We must increase awareness as well as access to 
treatment for young people.
  Despite the benefits of treatment, a significant gap in this country 
exists between the number of adolescents who need chemical dependency 
treatment

[[Page H6735]]

and those who actually receive it. According to a study done in my home 
State of Minnesota, a State that has led the Nation in the treatment 
and prevention of addiction, only one-fourth of youths ages 14 to 17 
who need treatment actually are able to access treatment.
  Madam Speaker, let me close by saying that commemorating recovery 
month gives all of us an opportunity to recognize the tremendous 
strides taken by those who have undergone treatment and the 
professionals in the treatment field who have dedicated their lives to 
helping others. By celebrating recovery month, we celebrate the lives 
of the millions of people and their families in recovery today. I urge 
all of my colleagues to support this important resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 371.
  Madam Speaker, I again thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) 
for yielding me this time and for his strong, effective leadership in 
combating addiction and in recognizing and promoting treatment and 
prevention of addiction.
  Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
371, which expresses the support of the goals and the ideas of the 
National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month. As may be mentioned, 
September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and it 
is certainly a powerful message to hear the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Ramstad) speak of his own recovery from addiction. I think we 
should join in commending him for the courage that he displays in 
sharing his message of recovery from addiction. It should give 
encouragement to all who fight to overcome addiction in a similar 
manner.
  This powerful message which we hope to send today, that substance 
abuse treatment is effective and that recovery reclaims lives, is a 
very important message to send to the American people. Providing 
effective treatment to those who need it is critical to breaking the 
cycle of addiction, violence, despair and to helping addicted 
individuals become productive members of society.
  This is an opportunity for all of us to recognize the tremendous 
strides taken by all individuals who have undergone successful 
treatment and to salute those who have worked with those individuals so 
tirelessly and have dedicated their lives to helping people with 
problems of addiction.
  This month celebrates the work of policymakers, Federal, State, and 
local government entities, business leaders, substance abuse providers 
and the public. This is an opportunity for all of us to recommit 
ourselves to the task of substance abuse treatment and recovery.
  Substance abuse does cost American businesses and industries millions 
of dollars every year, and it has a profound negative effect in the 
workplace. Contrary to popular opinion, most illegal substance abusers 
work on the job every day. In fact the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration has found that nearly 73 percent of all 
illegal drug users in this country are employed. Lost productivity, 
high employee turnover, low employee morale, mistakes and accidents, 
increased Workers' Compensation insurance and health insurance premiums 
are all the results of untreated substance abuse problems in the 
workplace.
  September, designated as recovery month, also highlights the benefits 
to be gained from corporate and small business workplace substance 
abuse referral programs. H. Con. Res 371 makes us all aware that 
recovery from substance abuse is possible and that supporting treatment 
for addicted individuals increases productivity, improves morale, is 
important to success in business, and most importantly, preserves and 
protects the quality of life for the addicted individual and their 
families.

                              {time}  1500

  I join with the author of this bill and with the gentleman from 
California (Chairman Horn) in support of this resolution to salute 
those who work with the addicted in this country.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HORN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) who has 
been immensely helpful in this and all the other resolutions that come 
out of the Subcommittee of Government Management, Information and 
Technology.
  When one looks at the cost here of $150 billion a year in drug-
related criminal and medical costs in 1997 alone, and that is more than 
we spent on education, transportation, agriculture, energy, space, and 
foreign aid combined; and when one thinks that we could fill a stadium 
on a Saturday afternoon for a football team, that number of people 
would be wiped out by drunk drivers.
  This treatment is possible. We see the wonderful work that Alcoholics 
Anonymous does and the other treatment programs. It is so important. We 
need to discuss it in people's homes. We need to discuss it in the 
villages, the towns, the cities, because this is the type of thing that 
needs the human touch, where people say we care about you and something 
should be done to help you.
  Generally that works, but often they fall off the wagon, as the 
saying goes, and then thousands of people are injured, hurt, die as a 
result of these victims.
  The saddest, of course, is when one sees young people at their high 
school prom or something and then a fellow student rams into them and 
they never have a chance to graduate and they never have a chance to go 
and provide the opportunities for themselves in this world.
  So let me urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. 
The resolution of H. Con. Res. 371 by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Ramstad) hopefully will get a few people to be helpful in this area and 
maybe save many people.
  Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
371.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________