The Truth is Better
than Fiction
than Fiction
 |  |  |  |  |
February 2006
NEW YORK, NY -- In the wake of publicity surrounding James Frey's book, A Million Little
Pieces, the Medical/Scientific Committee of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence (NCADD) would like to reaffirm that alcoholism and drug addiction are
diseases -- primary, chronic, yet treatable diseases from which people can and do
recover. NCADD is the nation's oldest advocacy organization dedicated to providing
information, education, help and hope to the general public regarding alcoholism and
other drug dependence and its Medical/Scientific Committee is comprised of recognized
experts in the field of alcoholism and addiction. Regrettably, Mr. Frey's book has presented
some serious misconceptions about the science of alcoholism and addiction and has
minimized the unequivocal progress that has been made in the past decade in
understanding and treating these diseases.
As defined by NCADD and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and published in
the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1992, "Alcoholism is a primary, chronic
disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its
development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is
characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with
the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in
thinking, most notably denial." Mr. Frey's book is at best a novel lacking scientific basis.
Recent neurobiological, genetic, pharmacological and brain imaging research have
reinforced our knowledge that alcoholism and other drug dependencies are genetically
predisposed brain diseases and, as such, require complex and comprehensive
treatment. A recent report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) titled, Improving the
Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions, notes that alcohol and
other drug dependencies are treatable, chronic brain diseases and that treatment must
be effectively integrated into the national health care system at all levels. Research
continues to show that the disease process of addiction is similar to other common
medical disorders such as Type II Diabetes, obesity, and many types of cardiovascular
diseases and cancers.
Alcoholism and drug dependence, like other diseases, cross all societal boundaries,
affect both genders, every ethnic group, and people in every tax bracket. One of America's
preeminent public health issues, alcoholism and drug addiction are serious problems
requiring medical treatment, sophisticated psychotherapies and interventions provided by
licensed professionals, and the effective support systems historically found in twelve step
recovery groups.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Frey's book seems to point the general public back to a time when
alcoholism and addiction were considered a moral failing," says Robert J. Lindsey,
newly-elected NCADD President. "However, science is ultimately stronger than fiction and
recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is a reality for thousands of Americans every
day.
"Having spent more than 25 years working at all levels of the alcoholism and addiction
field, I have found that there is no greater privilege than bringing hope, help and recovery
into the lives of individuals and families who have been affected by this disease. This is
what NCADD has been doing for the last 60 years through its national office and network
of Affiliate offices throughout the country.
"One of our biggest challenges," continues Lindsey, "is to find ways to present scientific
evidence to clear up widely held misconceptions about alcoholism and drug addiction,
including the ideas that the addicted person can 'just stop' using drugs; that if someone
relapses, they have failed; and the belief that treatment doesn't work."
To help in this effort, NCADD is developing a national, multi-year campaign with a coalition
of leading experts and organizations in the alcoholism and addiction field to educate
Americans on the serious human, health, social and financial impact of alcoholism and
addiction. The goal of the Hope, Help and Healing public education campaign will be to
measurably reduce the $276 billion cost of addiction to American society and to change
the way individuals, families, and institutions think and act when addressing alcoholism
and drug dependence.
Alcoholism and other drug dependencies strain the health care system, the economy,
harm family life and threaten public safety. This is not a matter of fiction. Alcoholism and
drug addiction are diseases, diseases from which people can and do recover.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Robert J. Lindsey
Director of Communications
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
244 East 58th Street 4th Floor
New York, NY 10022
212-269-7797 ext. 19
212-269-7510 fax
communications@ncadd.org
www.ncadd.org
NEW YORK, NY -- In the wake of publicity surrounding James Frey's book, A Million Little
Pieces, the Medical/Scientific Committee of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence (NCADD) would like to reaffirm that alcoholism and drug addiction are
diseases -- primary, chronic, yet treatable diseases from which people can and do
recover. NCADD is the nation's oldest advocacy organization dedicated to providing
information, education, help and hope to the general public regarding alcoholism and
other drug dependence and its Medical/Scientific Committee is comprised of recognized
experts in the field of alcoholism and addiction. Regrettably, Mr. Frey's book has presented
some serious misconceptions about the science of alcoholism and addiction and has
minimized the unequivocal progress that has been made in the past decade in
understanding and treating these diseases.
As defined by NCADD and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and published in
the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1992, "Alcoholism is a primary, chronic
disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its
development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is
characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with
the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in
thinking, most notably denial." Mr. Frey's book is at best a novel lacking scientific basis.
Recent neurobiological, genetic, pharmacological and brain imaging research have
reinforced our knowledge that alcoholism and other drug dependencies are genetically
predisposed brain diseases and, as such, require complex and comprehensive
treatment. A recent report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) titled, Improving the
Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions, notes that alcohol and
other drug dependencies are treatable, chronic brain diseases and that treatment must
be effectively integrated into the national health care system at all levels. Research
continues to show that the disease process of addiction is similar to other common
medical disorders such as Type II Diabetes, obesity, and many types of cardiovascular
diseases and cancers.
Alcoholism and drug dependence, like other diseases, cross all societal boundaries,
affect both genders, every ethnic group, and people in every tax bracket. One of America's
preeminent public health issues, alcoholism and drug addiction are serious problems
requiring medical treatment, sophisticated psychotherapies and interventions provided by
licensed professionals, and the effective support systems historically found in twelve step
recovery groups.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Frey's book seems to point the general public back to a time when
alcoholism and addiction were considered a moral failing," says Robert J. Lindsey,
newly-elected NCADD President. "However, science is ultimately stronger than fiction and
recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is a reality for thousands of Americans every
day.
"Having spent more than 25 years working at all levels of the alcoholism and addiction
field, I have found that there is no greater privilege than bringing hope, help and recovery
into the lives of individuals and families who have been affected by this disease. This is
what NCADD has been doing for the last 60 years through its national office and network
of Affiliate offices throughout the country.
"One of our biggest challenges," continues Lindsey, "is to find ways to present scientific
evidence to clear up widely held misconceptions about alcoholism and drug addiction,
including the ideas that the addicted person can 'just stop' using drugs; that if someone
relapses, they have failed; and the belief that treatment doesn't work."
To help in this effort, NCADD is developing a national, multi-year campaign with a coalition
of leading experts and organizations in the alcoholism and addiction field to educate
Americans on the serious human, health, social and financial impact of alcoholism and
addiction. The goal of the Hope, Help and Healing public education campaign will be to
measurably reduce the $276 billion cost of addiction to American society and to change
the way individuals, families, and institutions think and act when addressing alcoholism
and drug dependence.
Alcoholism and other drug dependencies strain the health care system, the economy,
harm family life and threaten public safety. This is not a matter of fiction. Alcoholism and
drug addiction are diseases, diseases from which people can and do recover.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Robert J. Lindsey
Director of Communications
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
244 East 58th Street 4th Floor
New York, NY 10022
212-269-7797 ext. 19
212-269-7510 fax
communications@ncadd.org
www.ncadd.org
| SCIENCE OF ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION IS GREATER THAN FICTION |
