For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 9, 2001
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month Proclamation
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Alcohol and drug addiction exacts a devastating toll on our
Nation. Approximately 14 million adults are alcoholics or abusers of
alcohol, and one in four of our children are exposed to alcoholism or
alcohol abuse in their families before age 18. Three million
children between the age of 14 and 17 drink regularly and face future
problems with alcohol. And recent statistics show that more
than 14 million Americans used illicit drugs last year.
The costs of these widespread addictions are
staggering. More than 100,000 Americans die each year from
alcohol-related causes. Recent estimates suggest that the
abuse of alcohol and drugs costs taxpayers more than $294 billion
annually in preventable health care costs, extra law enforcement,
automobile accidents, crime, and lost
productivity. Addiction to nicotine adds an additional $138
billion to our country's financial burden.
My proposed budget provides assistance to those addicted to
drugs. My Administration's proposal for enhanced treatment
will increase funding for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism and the National Institute on Drug Abuse and provides $111
million of additional funding to increase access to substance abuse
treatment. The budget includes $74 million for the
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program, which provides formula
grants supporting drug and alcohol treatment in State and local
correctional facilities. This initiative is evidence-based
and requires real accountability from recipients.
Scientific research also holds a great deal of promise in treating
drug and alcohol addiction. Publicly funded biomedical
research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, plays an
important role in finding effective means of preventing and treating
these disorders. These research efforts allow scientists to
target optimal points for intervention. Through Federally
supported clinical trials, new treatments can be developed for
communities in need across our country.
Alcohol and drug addiction destroys lives and threatens the
well-being of our country, and we must address it with concerted,
sustained, and purposeful strategies. If we focus more of
our Nation's attention, energy, and resources on fighting these
addictions, we will rescue lives and restore hope.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2001, as
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Prevention Month. I call
upon all public officials and the people of the United States to
observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
this ninth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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