We are well into the New Year and as I look back over the past decade I feel confident that those of us, working in the field of the prevention and treatment of alcoholism and other drug disorders, have made progress. 

• Science has confirmed that alcoholism and drug dependency is a brain disease that needs to be treated as a chronic condition, treatable and manageable.
• People who are in active recovery from alcoholism and other drug dependency are becoming advocates for treatment and education.  They want the community to know that recovery is possible.  They want the community to know that alcoholism and other drug dependency is a disease and not a moral issue.
• The federal government has passed long awaited legislation that assures parity (equal payment) for the treatment of mental health/substance use disorders as well as other physical conditions. 
• Michigan is now a smoke free state!  Effective May 1, 2010 smoking will not be allowed in restaurants, bars or workplaces.  It has taken years of advocating for this legislation to actually see it become law.  It confirms that advocacy and educational efforts can produce change.
• Those who are working to prevent alcoholism and other drug dependency have recognized society’s need to change the way it thinks about drinking patterns and consumption. 

This is where we are now.  With people still dying or being maimed by intoxicated drivers; parents still believing that “all kids drink,” and children still being raised in families stressed by the unhealthy use of alcohol and other drugs, there is much still to do.
We all know that it is much easier to prevent something bad from happening then to fix it after the fact.  How do you fix the family of a women killed by an intoxicated driver?  How do you fix a young person addicted to prescription drugs?  How do you fix children raised by a mom and dad who fight every week end complicated by their drinking?       
We, first, need to help individuals and families to recognize that one in five families is impacted by addiction and addiction starts with acceptance of unhealthy behaviors.  Unhealthy behaviors occur when we let people drive after they have been drinking.  Unhealthy behaviors occur when we allow kids to drink.  Unhealthy behaviors cause many divorces, bankruptcies, lost jobs, and incarcerations. Many illnesses and accidents including falls can  be directly attributed to drinking and other drug use. 
We need to help individuals and families see that addiction does not just happen to others.  It is in our homes; it effects those we love.  So this is where we are, facing the next decade.  Prevent it so we don’t need to cure it.