Surgeon General Issues Landmark Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health
NewsParamount Studios in Los Angeles
November 17, 2016
“How we respond to this crisis is a test for America”
The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health marks the first time a U.S. Surgeon General has dedicated a report to substance misuse and related disorders. The report addresses alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription drug misuse, with chapters dedicated to neurobiology, prevention, treatment, recovery, health systems integration and recommendations for the future. It provides an in-depth look at the science of substance use disorders and addiction, calls for a cultural shift in the way Americans talk about the issue, and recommends actions we can take to prevent and treat these conditions, and promote recovery.
“Alcohol and drug addiction take an enormous toll on individuals, families, and communities,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Most Americans know someone who has been touched by an alcohol or a drug use disorder. Yet 90 percent of people with a substance use disorder are not getting treatment. That has to change.”
“Recovery advocates have created a once unimagined vocal and visible recovery presence, as living proof that long-term recovery exists in the millions of individuals who have attained degrees of health and wellness, are leading productive lives, and making valuable contributions to society.”
“The Surgeon General’s report is a monumental step forward in eliminating the stigma of addiction and recovery. We are pleased to see the comprehensive section on recovery that will help to educate policymakers, the medical community and the public about the many pathways of recovery and the incredible value peer-based recovery support services provide for individuals and their families. To be most effective, a comprehensive approach to addressing alcohol and drug addiction must include expanding the role of the recovery housing, recovery high schools, collegiate recovery communities and recovery community organizations (RCO’s) nationwide.” – Patty McCarthy Metcalf, Executive Director, Faces & Voices of Recovery
View the Full Report & Executive Summary