Grant Helps Raise Awareness about Addiction October 18, 2001
News Summary
Friends of Recovery New Hampshire (FOR NH) was one of 16 organizations nationwide that received grants to help raise awareness about addiction and improve access to treatment, the Nashua Telegraph reported Oct. 14.The $30,000 Demand Treatment! grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will be administered by Join Together, a project of the Boston University School of Public Health. The social-marketing campaign is aimed at educating the public about chemical dependency and increasing the number of people receiving early, brief interventions.
Currently, more than 55,000 New Hampshire residents are addicted to alcohol and other drugs but aren't receiving treatment. Joe Harding, executive director of FOR-NH, said the public incorrectly believes addiction treatment is readily available to anyone who needs it.
"No one knows anything about these people," Harding said. "There is so much shame and stigma that people don't want to tell."
Anara Guard, director of information for Join Together, said that Demand Treatment! was created on the premise that without consumer demand, supply does not increase. "Politicians say, 'No one ever calls me about this issue. They call about garbage pickup,' '' said Guard. "But surveys show people with [alcohol and other drug] problems aren't getting help. They aren't asked questions about alcohol consumption."
In addition, FOR-NH received a matching gift from New Futures, a New Hampshire organization aimed at reducing underage alcohol use and increasing the availability of alcohol and other drug treatment.
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