Surgeon General Calls Substance Abuse a Public Health Crisis

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A “landmark report” issued Thursday by the Surgeon General found that nearly 21 million Americans have substance abuse disorders — more than the number of people with all forms of cancer — and yet 90 percent are not receiving treatment.

“That has to change,” U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said via a press release.

The first of its kind report — Facing Addiction in America; The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health — found that one in seven Americans will develop a substance use disorder in their lives. However, only one in 10 will receive treatment. The report stated that substance abuse disorders are costing the U.S. more than $420 billion a year.

According to the report, in 2015, about 67 million Americans reported binge drinking in the last month, 48 million said they used an illegal drug or misused prescription medication and 28 million admitted to driving under the influence within the year.

It’s unclear what, if any, effect the 428-page report will have on the already heavily regulated beer industry, which has grown to include 4,938 U.S. craft breweries, according to industry trade group the Brewers Association.

In recent years, several states have moved away from antiquated Prohibition-era laws, most recently Pennsylvania, where that state’s governor signed into law a bill to allow distributors to sell six-packs, and Oklahoma, where voters approved a ballot measure to allow the sale of full-strength beer and wine at grocery and convenience stores.

In addition, some form of marijuana use — recreational and medicinal — is now legal in 26 states and Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, the Beer Institute and other alcohol industry groups are continuing their work to pass the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA), which would lower excise taxes, compliance burdens, and regulations on alcohol makers.

Beer Institute CEO Jim McGreevy responded to the report in an email to members by noting that “one-size-fits-all policies, including tax increases, fail to effectively address the problem of alcohol abuse, divert resources from more targeted approaches, and unfairly and negatively impact moderate and responsible consumers.”

The Beer Institute said it would continue “to support and lead efforts to encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol beverages.”

“In fact, the overwhelming majority of Americans consume alcohol lawfully and responsibly, and we are pleased to see the Surgeon General’s Report acknowledges that moderate alcohol consumption can be part of a healthy diet for adults,” the statement read. “We also welcome the Surgeon General’s efforts to destigmatize addiction and promote treatment and recovery for those for whom alcohol consumption is a concern. Significant progress has been made in reducing alcohol abuse, including long-term declines in drunk driving and underage drinking. More remains to be done and we continue to support proven strategies to combat alcohol abuse.”

The Brewers Association also released a statement:

“Responsible enjoyment of beer can be part of a healthy lifestyle,” it wrote. “The BA strongly opposes illegal use of our products such as underage drinking and driving while under the influence. We, as brewers, are offended by those who misuse our products. We promote education on responsible enjoyment of craft beer through programs, such as the Savor the Flavor program.”

The Surgeon General’s report found that despite the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, and the Affordable Care Act in 2010 leading to more access to treatment services, there remains a “treatment gap” due to a number of issues, including stigma. In order to change that, Murthy called for the country’s culture to change its view of alcohol and drug abuse.

“Not as a moral failing but as a chronic illness that must be treated with skill, urgency and compassion,” Murthy said in a release. “The way we address this crisis is a test for America.”

The most vulnerable to abuse issues are adolescents and young adults, Murthy found. One example was young people who uses alcohol before the age of 15, who are then four time more likely to abuse alcohol later in life than those who had their first drink at age 20 or older.

“Preventing or even simply delaying young people from trying substances is important to reducing the likelihood of a use disorder later in life,” Murthy said in a release.

Read the Surgeon General’s full report here.