Poll: Open Society Institute/Lake Research Partners

This survey, sponsored by the Open Society Institute, shows that in a time of partisan debate over health reform, Americans across party lines agree on improving access to addiction treatment. Despite difficult economic times, most are willing to pay out of their own pocket to make alcohol and drug addiction treatment more accessible and affordable for those who need services.

Large majorities see treatment as an effective, ongoing process. Yet many Americans who have personal experience with addiction report that finding affordable treatment is difficult.

 Key findings include:

• More than three-quarters of Americans (77%) support including addiction treatment in health reform, including majorities of Democrats (88%), independents (72%), and Republicans (72%).
• Nearly seven in ten (69%) support paying two dollars more per month in health insurance premiums to make addiction treatment more accessible and affordable, including majorities of support across political parties.
• Only one in four Americans (26%) say there are enough affordable, accessible, quality treatment centers and services in their community; nearly half (47%) reports an inadequate number of treatment centers.
• Of those who know someone who has looked for addiction treatment, 46% say it was difficult finding affordable, quality treatment services. Additionally, a poll conducted in June 2009 found that half (49%) of Americans say they feel they could not afford the costs of treatment if they or someone in their family needed it.

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