Addiction

I have often wondered why the treatment of addiction does not get as much press as important issues such as: Cancer, MS, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s and many others?  Now in no way am I complaining, I am just wondering?  Earlier today I was reading statistics on drug abuse and alcoholism amongst Canadians.  Some of the findings were quite staggering, such as: “In 2002 an estimated 3.1 million people, 13% of the population reported that they had used illicit drugs in the past year.  In 2002, about 8.8 million or 35% of the population had engaged in at least one episode of heavy drinking (five or more drinks on a single occasion) in that time.”   I work for an organization where everyday I work with individuals who are trying to overcome their substance abuse issues, and many of them are.  Change does not happen overnight, but change does happen!  I am living proof.  I think it is time we begin to make it known that battling addiction is just as important as funding and fighting these terrible diseases.