I have a friend who has been in and out of treatment—does treatment for addiction really work?

Treatment is highly effective when it is available.  But addiction is not curable; it is a life-long condition very much like diabetes or hypertension.  It is also characterized as a relapsing condition and individuals sometimes leave treatment and then need to return.  Sometimes, patients themselves need to be convinced, like the rest of the population, of the efficacy of treatment—not unlike those who have high blood pressure or chronic heart disease who stop taking their medication, eat the wrong food and don’t exercise.  About one-third of people in treatment for addiction do not stay in treatment protocol, which is the same rate of treatment compliance as with diabetes, and hypertension.
 
If a person leaves treatment, does that mean it’s ineffective?
 
It is not uncommon for individuals to relapse before staying in recovery for the long haul—so relapse in itself is not an indication of failure.  Treatment may need to be adjusted or an alternative protocol selected to help the individual move back into recovery.

Isn’t addiction a matter of choice or will power? Can’t people just stop using drugs or alcohol?
 
At the outset, yes, individuals make a choice in their behavior, just as they do when they smoke, eat fatty foods, and choose not to exercise. Repeated drug and alcohol use can cause addiction in many people.  Addiction is complex and it quickly changes the structure and function of the brain.  Stopping is not simply a question of willpower. Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into a chronic, relapsing condition.

Why is that some people get addicted and others don’t?

Addiction, like other chronic health conditions, is a combination of factors and there is no one predictor.  Risk factors include a person’s genetic make up, social environment, and age. But what many people don’t realize is that, relatively quickly, a dramatic change occurs in brain chemistry that reduces an individual’s ability to choose.  This change in the brain actually requires an individual to continue use of the substance in order to operate without discomfort and pain.

Why should taxpayers shoulder the cost of addiction treatment?

Addiction is a health condition and should be covered by health insurance like other chronic health conditions. The government should only be called upon to pay for treatment for those who are uninsured, as it does routinely with other health conditions. No one in this country should lack needed medical attention for a health problem because of a lack of money.

How can I apply for a grant?

At this time, the initiative is a three-year, one-time effort. We do not expect to award another round of grants and, as such, proposals are no longer being accepted. If there are other future opportunities, they will be posted on this website.

Why don’t you fund direct services facilities?

No single foundation is in a position to directly fund treatment in a way that makes a measurable difference in closing the treatment gap. We believe that to make treatment available to everyone who needs it, we must employ coordinated financing, efficiency and advocacy strategies. In doing so, we seek to drive public and private insurance dollars to treatment. Ultimately, this will provide far more resources to direct services than an individual foundation ever could.