IMPACT MATTERS

Substance Abuse Treatment Programs Can be Successful

Truly, substance abuse is a difficult and painful problem. Nonetheless, treatment programs have proven to be extremely successful. A California study of 100,000 individuals afflicted with substance abuse problems found that every dollar spent on treatment saved the public $7.14 in other costs. Furthermore, a study by the Rand Corporation found that substance abuse treatment was 14 times more effective than incarceration.

United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) is addressing the problem of substance abuse through our Community Priority of “Strengthening children and families.” Helping adolescents avoid the trap of substance abuse and enabling adults to receive the treatment they desperately need creates stronger families, happier children, and a better quality of life for us all. To further substance abuse treatment efforts in our service area, UWSL and its Community Partners are addressing the issue through treatment and prevention programs that target individuals, adolescents, and parents with children.

For example, Youth Support Systems provides treatment and prevention programs to our community’s youth. In Youth Support System’s Project ABLE program, 85 percent of participants have demonstrated abstinence from drugs or have shown a 50 percent reduction in substance abuse after 30 days in the program. And 91 percent had fewer legal charges or offenses upon exiting the program.

But substance abuse treatment and prevention is just one aspect of addressing the problem of substance abuse. Encouraging adolescents gain a valuable education and helping adults find economic stability with employment are keys to overcoming substance abuse challenges. At the Odyssey House, 96 percent of adolescents in the residential treatment program achieved passing grades while in treatment. The vast majority of those entering substance abuse treatment at The Haven were unemployed, but 85 percent of the clients who graduated from the program had obtained jobs, and 92 percent had secured housing.

Through the Odyssey House’s parent & children’s residential treatment program, parents undergoing substance abuse treatment learn new parenting skills. And 100 percent of these parents have not incurred new child abuse or neglect charges.

As you can see, treatment programs are extremely successful. It’s our goal to get people off of waiting lists and into the treatment programs they so desperately need. Only then can we truly have an impact against this challenging societal problem.