(3 Oct 2017) ACCORDING TO A GOVERNMENT STUDY... MORE THAN 15 MILLION ADULTS IN THE US HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ALCOHOL.
YET LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF THEM GET TREATMENT.
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM IS HOPING TO CHANGE THAT BY MAKING IT EASIER TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO HELP.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Ducharme. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. "Often time people think their only options are either Alcoholics Anonymous or some other mutual help group or a long-term residential rehab program and sometimes people either don't want or don't need those options. So what we've done in the Navigator is show you all the other options in between."
A NEW ONLINE TOOL CALLED THE NAVIGATOR ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SEARCH THROUGH 100,000 THERAPISTS, 5,000 ACCREDITED TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND 4,000 ADDICTION DOCTORS. IT ALSO HELPS PEOPLE EVALUATE PROVIDERS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Ducharme, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. "Then you need to call them and ask them questions to find out if they will be the right fit for you. And we give you those questions to ask and the right answers to listen for."
WHILE THE PREMISE FOR THE TOOL IS STRAIGHTFORWARD, FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH ALCOHOL DISORDERS SAY UNTIL NOW, THERE'S BEEN VERY LITTLE OBJECTIVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN ONE CENTRAL PLACE.
SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Wear, daughter has alcohol problems. "I'd Google it and whatever and it has information but it's largely driven by advertisements."
ROBERT WEAR KNOWS THE PAIN FIRST HAND.. HIS 21 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER HAS GONE THROUGH A SERIES OF TREATMENTS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Wear, daughter has alcohol problems. "There are not so great programs out there so it's easy to get misled. People are desperate and they'd rather have their loved ones be anywhere but where they are at."
WHILE THE SITE DOESN'T SOLVE THE ISSUES OF ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY... THE AGENCY BEHIND THE NAVIGATOR SAYS IT ARMS PEOPLE WITH INFORMATION TO LEAD THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Ducharme, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. "Do they do a comprehensive assessment? Do they offer you a customized and responsive treatment plan, meaning it's not one size fits all treatment?"
A TOOL TO HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.
CARRIE ANTLFINGER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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