ADDICTION: #1 PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
Slamming the door behind her, Jennifer sunk to the floor in despair and let out a wail. How could 15 years of what she thought was a good marriage go up in flames -- in an instant?
Jason begged her not to give up. He said he’d get help, that he would do anything if she didn’t leave him. It was impossible for her not to think about what Jason had been doing behind her back for years. It made her sick to think about it.
What was Jennifer going to tell the children? What if they found out the truth? She didn’t want him around the kids right now. How careful had Jason really been? What if the children discovered the websites Jason had been visiting? There were many unanswered questions. And, it was going to get even worse as the children started asking their own questions. Jennifer wondered how this will affect the children? Maybe it already had.
Addiction eats us up from the inside, destroying everything which we hold precious — our health, our relationships, our financial security, our hopes, and dreams.
Addiction is the single greatest public health crisis facing our country. We are losing a whole generation to addiction…illegal and prescription drugs, alcohol, porn, sex, gambling and the internet. Addiction is eroding our schools, our neighborhoods, our economy, and our social fabric. It is our greatest source of crime, violence, shattered relationships, and broken bodies.Addiction is embedded with us in our society affecting every family and every community. Confronting and defeating addiction is the most important challenge facing our society.
Now is the time for us to act.
AFAR CREATES LASTING SOLUTIONS FOR ALL ADDICTIONS.
ADDICTION IS REAL.
208million
WORLDWIDE
140million
WORLDWIDE
30million
IN THE US ALONE
24million
IN THE US ALONE
6million
IN THE US ALONE
TOGETHER WE CAN END ADDICTION.
RESEARCH
Research is the core of AFAR’s mission. It is only through continued scientific investigation and analysis that we learn more about the origins of addiction, how treatment works, what motivates addicts to seek recovery, and how to keep addicts from relapsing. Through research we have learned that addiction is a chronic, but treatable brain disease.
RESEARCH
Research is the core of AFAR’s mission. It is only through continued scientific investigation and analysis that we learn more about the origins of addiction, how treatment works, what motivates addicts to seek recovery, and how to keep addicts from relapsing. Through research we have learned that addiction is a chronic, but treatable brain disease.
EDUCATION
Education will make the biggest culture shifts in how we identify and treat addiction. As individuals, we think it’s easier to be blind to addiction. Without speaking out and educating society, myths and stigmas will continue. And, people who need treatment will be afraid to seek treatment. Education is critical to eradicating addiction.
ADVOCACY
We must empower and inspire our policymakers and citizens with information, direction, and roadmaps in order to enact change. We engage with policy-makers and legislators on the local and national levels to enact legislation that address the identification, treatment, prevention of addiction and strike at the roots of the disease.
