Since its inception in 2014, Strides for Sobriety in Dublin, Ohio has worked to provide support for teenagers who find themselves in adverse situations because of drugs and/or alcohol. The program began as an observation that the population of young people who were becoming victims was growing, but they were not offered adequate recovery opportunities due to the cost of treatment.
Providing financial assistance today
To help teens live a sober tomorrow
While Alcoholics Anonymous and its 12-step program has been proven successful, a troubled teenager needs an alternative starting place. Without exposure to these alternative programs and support organizations, they are left trying to figure out how to remove themselves from addiction – a menacing task to tackle when alone in the fight. Strides for Sobriety looks to gain funding for teenagers to get the help they need and to expand the scope of exposure for all other recovery options.
Help is Here: The Good News
Every dollar spent on drug treatment is estimated to return $18.52 in benefits to society in terms of reduced incarceration rates and associated crime costs to tax payers. Simply put, fixing the problem before disaster is an investment worth pursuing. Strides for Sobriety looks to do its part in connecting teenagers with the finance and support options they deserve.
Addiction Statistics: The Bad News
The abuse of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs is costly, amounting in more than $600 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and healthcare in the United States. Addiction affects more than just the user; everyone pays a bit of the price in one way or another.
- The median age of first time users is getting younger and younger – 15 percent for 12th graders and 12 percent for our 8th graders.
- More than 21 million Americans suffer from addiction or dependence on alcohol and drugs and have yet to experience recovery.
- Addiction is estimated to cost Americans more than $400 billion each year.
- Approximately 80 percent of all prison inmates abused drugs.
- Recent studies have found that the availability of Heroin is increasing in every community, particularly in the Central Ohio region. It is becoming cheaper and easier to obtain then alcohol.
- 1 in 5 high school seniors admit to using marijuana at least monthly.