[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 108 (Monday, July 30, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H4809-H4811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H4809]]
  SUPPORTING GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION 
                             RECOVERY MONTH

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 190) supporting the goals and 
ideals of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 190

       Whereas 26,000,000 people in the United States are addicted 
     to drugs or alcohol;
       Whereas 85 percent of all crime in the United States is 
     related to drug or alcohol addiction;
       Whereas the taxpayers of the United States paid more than 
     $150,000,000,000 in drug-related criminal and medical costs 
     in 1997, which is more than they spent in that year on 
     education, transportation, agriculture, energy, space 
     exploration, and foreign aid combined;
       Whereas each dollar invested in drug and alcohol treatment 
     yields 7 dollars in savings from decreased health care costs, 
     criminal justice costs, and work-related costs caused by 
     absenteeism, injuries, and poor 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 receive treatment for addiction 
     report using less marijuana and alcohol and being involved in 
     less criminal activity;
       Whereas addiction treatment for adolescents also improves 
     the school performance and psychological health of the 
     adolescents;
       Whereas a number of organizations and individuals dedicated 
     to fighting addiction and promoting treatment and recovery 
     will recognize September 2001 as National Alcohol and Drug 
     Addiction Recovery Month;
       Whereas the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment of the 
     Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
     sponsors the celebration of National Alcohol and Drug 
     Addiction Recovery Month to encourage citizen action to help 
     expand and improve the availability of effective addiction 
     treatment;
       Whereas National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 
     celebrates the tremendous achievements of individuals who 
     have undergone successful addiction treatment and recognizes 
     those in the field of addiction treatment who have dedicated 
     their lives to helping people recover from addiction; and
       Whereas the 2001 national campaign for National Alcohol and 
     Drug Addiction Recovery Month embraces the theme of ``We 
     Recover Together: Family, Friends and Community'' and seeks 
     to increase awareness about alcohol and drug addiction and 
     promote treatment and recovery for the millions of Americans 
     who need it: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress supports the goals and ideas of 
     National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.

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


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. 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. 190, the concurrent resolution now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Concurrent 
Resolution 190. It is important legislation introduced by our 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad). 
The resolution expresses congressional support for the goals and ideals 
of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
  Mr. Speaker, over 26 million people in the United States are addicted 
to drugs or alcohol, and over 85 percent of all crimes are related to 
these two substances.

                              {time}  1600

  In fact, the preamble to the resolution notes that in 1997 American 
taxpayers spent more than $150 billion in drug-related criminal and 
medical costs. This is more than taxpayers spent that year on 
education, transportation, agriculture, energy, space exploration and 
foreign aid combined.
  National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month celebrates the 
tremendous achievements of individuals who have undergone successful 
addiction treatment. It also recognizes the tireless advocates who have 
dedicated their lives to helping people recover from addiction.
  Treatment for addiction, which the resolution notes is as effective 
for treatment of other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and 
high blood pressure, deserve the support of all Americans.
  Every dollar invested in drug and alcohol treatment yields $7 in 
savings as a result of decreased health care costs, criminal justice 
costs, work-related costs caused by absenteeism, injuries, and poor 
performance. Treatment for adolescents improves their school 
performance and psychological health.
  A number of organizations and individuals involved in fighting 
addiction will recognize September as National Alcohol and Drug 
Addiction Recovery Month. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse has recognized the 
importance of this activity. It sponsors this celebration to encourage 
citizen action to help expand and improve the availability of effective 
treatment for addiction.
  The theme of this year's national campaign for National Alcohol and 
Drug Addiction Recovery Month is, and I quote, ``We recover together: 
Family, friends and community.''
  Its objectives are to increase awareness and to promote treatment and 
recovery for the millions of Americans who need it. These are worthy 
goals, Mr. Speaker. I urge all Members to support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 190, which expresses 
the support of the goals and ideas of National Alcohol and Drug 
Recovery Month.
  This resolution is one that is very close to the heart of its 
sponsor, Mr. Ramstad, who I have heard speak on this floor before 
regarding his personal experiences and his deep conviction that drug 
treatment is critical to our society.
  September is, of course, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery 
Month. It is an opportunity for us to share the powerful message that 
substance abuse treatment is effective and it reclaims lives. Providing 
effective treatment to those who need it is critical to breaking the 
cycle of drug addiction, violence, and despair and to helping addicted 
individuals to become productive members of our society.
  September is the opportunity for all of us to recognize the 
tremendous strides taken by individuals who have undergone successful 
treatment and to salute those in the field who have dedicated their 
lives to helping people in need.
  Substance abuse problems costs American businesses and industries 
millions of dollars every year. They have profound negative effects in 
the workplace. A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration found that nearly 73 percent of all illegal 
drug users in the United States are employed, 6.7 million full time 
workers, 1.6 million part time workers.
  Lost productivity, high employee turnover, low employee morale, 
mistakes and accidents, and increased workers' compensation insurance 
and health insurance premiums are all the results of untreated 
substance abuse problems in the workplace.
  Recovery Month also highlights the benefits to be gained from 
corporate and small business workplace substance abuse referral 
programs.
  H. Con. Res. 190 makes us aware that recovery from substance abuse is 
possible and that supporting treatment for addicted individuals 
increases productivity, improves morale, business success, and the 
quality of life for the addicted individual and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad).
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time 
to me and for bringing this resolution to the floor so expediently and 
for her strong support of this resolution. I thank the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Turner) for his support of this resolution as well as his 
kind words.
  Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago tomorrow, July 31, 1981, I woke up from my 
last

[[Page H4810]]

alcoholic blackout in a jail cell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota under 
arrest for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and failure to vacate 
the premises. Today, on the eve of my twentieth anniversary as a 
grateful recovering alcoholic, I am alive and sober only because I had 
access to chemical dependency treatment.
  My treatment experience at St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota started me on the road to recovery and gave me the tools to 
live a sober, healthy life these past 20 years.
  But, Mr. Speaker, 26 million other Americans are not so fortunate. 
That is right. There are 26 million Americans, 26 million alcoholics 
and addicts in our country, and fewer than 5 percent of them are able 
to access treatment for their disease of addiction.
  This disease, Mr. Speaker, is afflicting people of all ages. Among 
young people, teenagers, ages 12 to 17, an estimated 1.1 million young 
people are dependent on illicit drugs. Another 1 million teenagers are 
addicted to alcohol in this country. Last year alone, 3\1/2\ million 
drug addicts were denied access to treatment, according to the Office 
of National Drug Control Policy. That does not account for the 
staggering number of alcoholics who are unable to access treatment in 
the United States.
  Alcoholism and other drug addictions are an epidemic in America that 
are not being adequately treated, an epidemic, Mr. Speaker, that killed 
150,000 American people last year alone, and cost the American people 
$246 billion. That is according to the Family Research Council, which 
we all respect for the accuracy of their studies.
  Mr. Speaker, back in 1956, the American Medical Association first 
declared that addiction is a disease. AMA declared alcoholism and drug 
addiction are a fatal disease if not treated. That means we alcoholics 
and addicts will ultimately die, either directly or indirectly, as a 
result of our dependency if our disease is not treated and recovery 
maintained.
  The good news is that treatment works. According to all of the 
studies, treatment for alcoholism and other chemical addiction has the 
same recovery rate as for the disease of diabetes, the disease of 
hypertension, and the disease of adult asthma. In fact, treatment for 
addiction has a higher success rate than treatment for kidney disease 
and many forms of cancer.
  All of us in Congress have heard former drug czar Barry McCaffrey 
tell us, ``Chemical dependency treatment is more effective than cancer 
treatment, and it is a lot cheaper.'' It is well-documented, as the two 
previous speakers have mentioned, every dollar we spend for treatment 
saves $7 in health care costs, criminal justice costs, lost 
productivity from job absenteeism, injuries and below par work 
performance.
  All of the empirical data also shows that health care costs alone are 
100 percent higher for untreated addicts and alcoholics than for people 
like me who have been fortunate enough to go through treatment for 
chemical dependency. Chemical dependency treatment works and it is cost 
effective. Treatment not only saved my life, but it has saved millions 
of lives in the United States over the last several decades, restoring 
people to sanity and enabling them to lead healthy, productive lives.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution commemorating 
National Alcohol and Drug Addicting Recovery Month. For years a number 
of organizations and people dedicated to addiction treatment and 
recovery have recognized September as National Alcohol and Drug 
Addiction Recovery Month. I particularly want to recognize the Center 
for Substance Abuse Treatment of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration, which sponsors this celebration of National 
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month each year.
  There are many other important organizations, like the Alliance 
Project, the Johnson Institute, Hazelden Foundation and Recovery Works 
in my home State of Minnesota which do so much to encourage citizen 
action to help expand and improve the availability of effective 
addiction treatment.
  This September, special attention will focus on the relationships 
impacted by addiction and recovery. The theme, as was mentioned, will 
be ``We recover together: Family, friends and community.'' As any 
recovering person will tell you addiction is extremely destructive to 
family members. That is why they call it the family disease, and the 
support of our family and friends is invaluable as we travel the road 
to recovery.
  Addiction is also destructive to communities. Eighty-two percent of 
the people locked up in American jails and prisons today are there 
because of drugs and/or alcohol. Increasing access to treatment for 
use, Mr. Speaker, is extremely critical. Despite the benefits of 
treatment, a significant gap exists between the number of adolescents 
who need chemical dependency treatment and those who actually receive 
such treatment.
  According to a study done in Minnesota, a State that has led the 
Nation in treatment and prevention of addiction, only one-fourth, one 
out of four young people hooked on drugs and/or alcohol who need 
treatment actually receive it.
  Celebrating Recovery Month also gives us an opportunity to recognize 
the tremendous strides taken by those who have undergone treatment, as 
well as the great accomplishments by professionals in the treatment 
field who dedicate their lives to helping others. By celebrating 
recovery, we celebrate the lives of millions of people and their 
families and friends in recovery today.
  We also, Mr. Speaker, give hope to those still suffering from the 
ravages of chemical addiction. I urge all of my colleagues to support 
this important resolution, H. Con. Res. 190.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Minnesota for sponsoring 
this resolution; and in particular, I know I am joined by every Member 
of this House in thanking him for standing on the floor and sharing 
with us his own personal experiences with this issue. I know it will be 
an inspiration to many who are struggling with this problem, and I join 
with my colleagues in thanking the gentleman to share his story and 
sponsor this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) for 
his moving and inspiring statement, especially about his personal 
experiences. I also commend the gentleman for his 20th anniversary of 
freedom from chemical dependency, and thank him for introducing this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to commend the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Burton), the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform; the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Scarborough), chairman of the Subcommittee 
on Civil Service; the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the 
ranking member of the full committee; and the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Davis), the ranking member of the subcommittee, for expediting 
consideration of this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support National Alcohol and Drug 
Addiction Recovery Month to encourage citizen action to help expand and 
improve the availability of effective treatment.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 190. 
By Mr. Ramstad a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. I urge my colleagues to join 
in supporting this worthy legislation.
  Regrettably Mr. Speaker, our society is in dire need of additional 
emphasis on alcohol and drug abuse education, and especially with 
regard to treatment. Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable 
death in the nation, killing nearly 100,000 Americans each year. It has 
been estimated that approximately 14 million Americans suffer from 
alcohol related problems, including more than 8 million who are full 
alcoholics.
  Drug abuse is a widespread problem affecting more than 9 million 
individuals. Recent years have shown disturbing trends in the use of 
heroin, various club drugs, and methamphetamine, especially among our 
younger populations. Moreover, the drugs available on the streets today 
are cheaper, purer and easier to acquire than at any previous point in 
our nation's history.
  All told, it is estimated that 85% of all crime committed in our 
nation is somehow related to either drug or alcohol addiction. 
Furthermore,

[[Page H4811]]

in 1997, U.S. taxpayers spent more than $150 billion in drug-related 
criminal and health care costs.
  More troubling than the detrimental health effects for the individual 
alcoholic or addict, is the long term impact on the families, and 
especially the children, of alcoholics and drug abusers. Far too many 
children grow up in homes where one or both parents consume far too 
much alcohol, or use illicit drugs. These children are more likely to 
suffer abuse or neglect from their parents than their counterparts in 
homes were neither parent has a substance abuse problem. More troubling 
is the fact that these children have a higher risk of becoming 
alcoholics or addicts themselves when they reach adulthood.
  We have made enormous progress in improving drug and alcohol 
awareness. Thanks to the tireless efforts of groups like the Alcoholism 
and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County, and of Mothers Against Drunk 
Driving, alcohol-related traffic fatalities have decreased considerably 
from thirty years ago.
  Yet, we still have far to go. Far too many people do not view alcohol 
as a drug, and an alarming number of Americans do not realize that 
various alcoholic beverages contain different amounts of alcohol. A 
survey conducted in 1996 found that only 39% of Americans understood 
that a 12 ounce can of beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine, and a mixed drink 
with 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits contain the same amount of 
alcohol. This figure needs to be improved if we are to have any 
measurable level of success in raising alcohol awareness.
  Moreover we also have far to go on the drug front as well. Recent 
years have seen a proliferation of efforts to create back doors to 
legalization. This phenomenon is best illustrated by the medical 
marijuana argument. However, on the whole, anti-drug efforts are seeing 
signs of finally working after eight years of neglect under the prior 
administration. A return to a balanced approach that attacks both the 
supply and demand side of the problem simultaneously has made a 
difference.
  Drug treatment is an important component of demand reduction that has 
proven itself to be workable, but it requires enormous commitment on 
the part of both doctor and patient. This is especially true for those 
addicted to opiate narcotics and alcohol.
  In closing Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 190 is a good bill, with a 
laudable purpose. For that reason, I strongly support its passage, and 
urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
190.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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