Sick America
By Mike Deno
Written December 12, 2023
America is sick as a nation. Fentanyl and gun violence are killing our kids, and crime is rampant in communities once thought of as “too rural to be touched”. What do we do when we are sick, tell mom ask her what to do. Well, if you ask any room of parents or community leaders across the country what the biggest problems in their communities are, and you ring the same answers across the board, crime, drugs, childhood abuse and neglect. These are very real very big problems. All of which, create their own spiraling fallout when left unchecked. Surprisingly enough, in research, they all seem connected too. I dare say that if they are all related can we not treat all with one solution.
Let’s first look at the most important the children. The leading government website of these matters, SAMHSA.GOV tells us clearly, “Children having a parent with an SUD are at risk of experiencing direct effects, such as parental abuse or neglect, or indirect effects, such as fewer household resources.” So, actively addicted parents produce children which have lower chances of success. That is not all of the problem though. The Children and Family Research Center of Illinois released a report in May of 2002 which says, “Adults with substance abuse problems are more than twice as likely as their counterparts to abuse or neglect their children.” This same report goes on to state, “Substance abuse is a pervasive, devastating problem in contemporary society that affects all sectors of the population. Subsequently, substance abuse is one of the most serious issues facing children and families.” It seems clear to me at this point that If we can get parents clean and sober and keep them that way, we stand to improve one of the “most serious issues facing children and families”.
Next, let’s take a look at the concept of crime as a whole.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says, “The substantial prison population in the United States is strongly connected to drug-related offenses. While the exact rates of inmates with substance use disorders (SUDs) is difficult to measure, some research shows that an estimated 65% percent of the United States prison population has an active SUD. Another 20% percent did not meet the official criteria for an SUD, but were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their crime.” So, 65% of incarcerated people in American are confirmed addicts and another 20% were definitely under the influence during commission of their crimes. Those are clear and staggering numbers. Which seem to point at addiction as the underlying greater issue to be treated.
Finally, lets discuss addiction. The national Library of Medicine houses an article that seems to give us a solution, simply by pointing out a key connection.
The article details, ”Relapse is highest among addicts who have less education and who report lower grades is a factor that can be useful when considering treatment type and controlled for when comparing treatment outcomes.” One more time, “relapse is greatest among those with less education”. So, is this not the answer, educate the addicts about more than just addiction, and theoretically would that not reduce relapse rates and thereby reduce crime related to addiction such as thefts and child maltreatment?
On that note I must point out I am not the first person to have such a thought. In fact, in 2012 president Borack Obama had a similar thought and was so motivated to prove the theory he commissioned a massively funded project to span three to five years. The results of that study held by Emory University are more than clear:
“Our research has shown recidivism rates are inversely proportional to a released prisoner’s level of education. A study by Emory University found that:
· Ex-offenders who complete some high school courses have recidivism rates of around 55 percent.
· Vocational training cut recidivism to approximately 30 percent.
· An associate degree drops the rate to 13.7 percent.
· A bachelor’s degree reduces it to 5.6 percent.
· A master’s degree brings recidivism to 0 percent.”
Wow, zero percent of return after achieving a master’s degree. That is the most powerful number I have ever seen.
To recap, we have learned that Nearly 85% of incarcerated people in America are either admitted active SUD, or were affected by such during commission of their crimes. Then we learned that actively using addicts are more than twice as likely to abuse or neglect their children than their non actively using counterparts. Finally, we have a clear solution to all these problems in a simple thought furthered education and support. This is such a simple concept that is exists for domestic violence victims or sex crime victims even soldiers have dedicated support and educational programs designed to make sure they can find success after coming home. Yet today there is no real organization outside of a school church or recovery center that is trying to help ensure long term success among addicts in recovery by offering support services programs and presenting education as a long-term solution.
Today I present to you a solution that has real potential to not just do all of this locally but when replicated is can quickly be spread all across this country. Healing our nation and building brighter future for our children one Recovering family at a time.
The House Of Care. A Community Outreach and Recovery Support Resource Center.
Sources
SAMHSA
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_3223/ShortReport-3223.html
NIDA
Illinois Children and Family Research Center
https://cfrc.illinois.edu/pubs/bf_20020501_ParentalSubstanceAbuseAndChildMaltreatment.pdf
The National library of medicine
Blum, K., Schoenthaler, S. J., Oscar-Berman, M., Giordano, J., Madigan, M. A., Braverman, E. R., & Han, D. (2014). Drug abuse relapse rates linked to level of education: can we repair hypodopaminergic-induced cognitive decline with nutrient therapy?. The Physician and sportsmedicine, 42(2), 130–145. https://doi.org/10.3810/psm.2014.05.2065
Obama study