Director's Message

April 6, 2007

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, M.D., Director

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Last week I wrote about the importance of focusing on prevention and early intervention to catch health threats before they grow into serious, long-term problems. This week I want to focus on one of the most significant of those threats -- alcohol and substance abuse.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and it's a good time to talk about the impact that the abuse of alcohol and other substances has on society and the services we provide to Oregonians.

Substance abuse touches everything we do. For example, 60 percent of the children in foster care are there because their parents have substance abuse problems. We recently saw a graphic example of the impact of substance abuse on children when 17 children in Salem were taken into temporary state care after their parents were found to be involved in a drug sales ring.

The societal costs of substance abuse are significant. Oregon spends more than $1 billion every year dealing with the impacts of substance abuse in the areas of health care, child and family assistance, mental health and disability assistance, education, public safety, justice and corrections, and other programs. That's in addition to individual and private sector costs such as insurance premiums, lost wages and reduced profits to businesses. Alcohol and drug abuse impact crime rates, the need for prisons, the need for medical care, the number of infants born with health problems, the ability of children to do well in school, the ability of adults to keep jobs, domestic violence, and many other social issues. Providing services to individuals affected by alcohol and drug abuse impacts all DHS divisions.

And in many cases, substance abuse begins with alcohol. Most addiction treatment clients report the first drug they abused was alcohol, and use of alcohol begins early. Surveys show that alcohol is the most frequently used drug by Oregon's middle and high school students. Approximately 32 percent of Oregon eighth graders and 44 percent of Oregon eleventh graders reported regular alcohol use during 2006, and approximately 37,700 teenagers in Oregon have a serious alcohol problem.

Adolescent drinkers perform worse in school, are more likely to fall behind and have an increased risk of social problems, depression, suicide and violence that can stay with them throughout their lives. The younger a person is when they start to drink, the more likely they are to become an alcoholic.

But research and experience show that prevention and early intervention do make a difference. A 2004 study by the Washington Institute for Public Policy reviewed eight substance abuse prevention programs and found they yielded a cost benefit ranging from $274 to $1,938 per youth by reducing future costs related to crime, child abuse and neglect, teen pregnancy, and public assistance. In addition, 58 percent of youths who participate in substance abuse treatment improve their school performance, which pays off throughout their lives through increased earnings and reduced need for public assistance. Alcohol and drug abuse treatment work. And treatment is far less expensive than the alternative. Prevention is, in fact, a wise investment of resources.

That's why DHS has several policy option packages before the Legislature to increase the number of evidence-based programs for youths and adults aimed at preventing -- or providing early treatment for -- alcohol and drug abuse.

We are seeking funding to increase youth substance abuse prevention programs, increase the number of drug courts in Oregon, add community treatment resources for indigent clients, and improve access to alcohol and drug abuse treatment to prevent the need to remove children from their homes and place them in foster care.

Investing in prevention saves money. The problem has a solution, and the solution benefits everyone.

I'll keep you updated on the progress of our budget proposals as they move through this legislative session.

To provide feedback email: DHS.Directorsoffice@state.or.us

This message is intended for all department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.