[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H6967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           NATIONAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION RECOVERY MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to acknowledge and 
recognize National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
  Madam Speaker, the use and abuse of illegal, illicit, and contraband 
drugs is one of the most challenging and difficult problems facing 
America. Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month brings attention to 
the broad group of people affected by alcohol and drug abuse and how 
recovery truly helps people who struggle with substance abuse problems.
  The 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that just over 
22 million Americans, or 9 percent of the population aged 12 or older, 
were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year. 
This rate has remained fairly stable since 2002. Approximately 57 
percent of persons who are dependent on drugs were dependent on 
marijuana, with about 25 percent dependent on pain relievers and 23 
percent dependent on cocaine.
  Although men and women aged 12 to 17 have similar rates of drug 
dependence, for individuals older than 18, the rate of substance 
dependence or abuse was about twice as high for men compared to women. 
Racial/ethnic groups reported similar rates of dependence or abuse, 
except Asian Americans reported lower rates of dependence and abuse.
  Substance dependence or abuse varies by region of the country, with 
the Midwest, 10 percent, having a higher rate than the South, 8.7 
percent, and the Northeast, 8.1 percent, but a similar rate to the 
West, 9.2 percent.
  Rates for substance dependence or abuse among persons aged 12 or 
older in 2007 also varied by county type, with small metropolitan 
counties, 9.4 percent, having a significantly higher rate than 
nonmetropolitan counties, 8.3 percent, but a similar rate when compared 
with large metropolitan counties, 9.0 percent.
  In Illinois, according to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and 
Health, 780,000 Illinois citizens aged 12 or older reported illicit 
drug use, with 294,000 Illinoisans reporting drug dependence or abuse 
in the past year.

                              {time}  1900

  These data found that, for youth aged 12-17, approximately 104,000 
Illinoisans reported past month use of an illicit drug.
  Earlier in this decade, a survey in Chicago found that 800,000 
individuals indicated that they used drugs, with 300,000 reporting 
themselves as hardcore drug users.
  A 2010 study by the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy found that the 
Chicago metropolitan region ranks among the worst in the nation for 
heroin use and problems associated with heroin use. Chicago had the 
most cases of people with heroin problems using emergency rooms in the 
Nation from 2004 to 2008, 50 percent more than were handled in New York 
City during the same period.
  So I rise in essence to also commend those institutions and those 
individuals who are engaged in the treatment of substance abuse users, 
and I point out the Loretta Hospital, which is located in the 
congressional district where I live and work, I had the opportunity to 
attend on Monday of this week a great program composed of individuals 
who were substance abuse users, providers of care, the members of the 
police department, and I pointed out that the Chicago Police Department 
in that particular district has a commendable record of how they handle 
individuals that they come into contact with when they are inebriated, 
when they are suffering from alcoholism, when they might be found 
wandering on the street in states that require some intervention.
  I also note that on Saturday, there will be at least 500 to 800 
individuals involved in what we call Recovery Walk. That is individuals 
who are all addicted who will gather in a park for a rally and then 
walk to another park, pointing out the tremendous need for additional 
resources but also pointing out that treatment and recovery does in 
fact work.
  So I want to commend all of the individuals who have suffered from 
substance abuse, alcohol and drug use, and have overcome their 
difficulties and are now leading meaningful and productive lives.
  I also commend all of those who are involved in treatment who know 
that if they continue to believe, if they continue to hope, that they 
can overcome this difficulty.

                          ____________________