Most U.S. adults believe that recovery from addiction is possible, according to a recent national survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The telephone survey of 1,010 Americans ages 18 and older found that 50 percent of adults know someone in recovery from alcohol or other drug addiction.

Furthermore, more than two-thirds of respondents said they believe that treatment for addiction can work and that people in recovery can contribute to society.

The survey revealed some variations in attitudes by age and gender. For example, more young adults (ages 25-34) than older adults said they believe that recovery is possible, and women were more likely than men to say that people in recovery from illicit drugs can contribute to society.

Over 60 percent of respondents said they "would be comfortable" working with or being friends with someone in recovery, and less than 20 percent said they would "think less of a friend or relative" if they discovered he or she was in recovery.

But adults seem to be more comfortable with some addictions than others. When asked if they would be comfortable living next to someone in recovery from alcohol abuse, 57 percent said yes, whereas 46 percent of those polled said they would feel comfortable if the person next door were in recovery from drug abuse.