Focus on drug abuse

April, 1 2007

By Russell Stigall

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - There is a new coalition in town, substance abuse beware.

The United Way of Mat-Su and more than 30 other organizations, government officials and state agencies are expected to sign a memorandum forming the new Mat-Su anti-substance abuse coalition. The signing will take place at the Tuesday joint chambers of commerce meeting, noon at Evangelos.

At Tuesday's meeting, coalition members will address a business-oriented audience, said Elizabeth Ripley, coalition chair and spokesperson for Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Mat-Su Regional is a coalition member. Ripley said her group will explain the cost of substance abuse to community, business and family.

&#8220The costs are very real

and on different levels - financial, mental and spiritual,”

Ripley said.

During the chamber meeting, United Way Executive Director Michelle Bosau will outline the effects of substance abuse and how her organization plans to address the issue through the formation of a community-based coalition.

Substance abuse costs Alaska an estimated $738 million annually, according to United Way information. These financial hits come from lost productivity, costs to the justice system, health care, traffic crashes and reliance on public assistance.

Alcohol and drug abuse are faulted for 1,109 traffic crashes in Alaska during 2002.

Communities are also hampered by the lost productivity of a substance abuser. Missed days and reduced mental

acuity resulted in the loss of

an estimated $367 million

during 2003.

Substance abuse also takes its toll on a community's judicial system. As an example, police, judges and lawyers in 2003 arrested and processed an estimated 17,400 drug and alcohol abusers.

And then there's the time and materials used to treat substance abuse-caused health problems, like cirrhosis of the liver, hypertension, diabetes or stomach cancer. Substance abuse cost the health care system an estimated $178 million in 2003

The substance abuse coalition initiative began more than a year ago as part of the United Way's strategic plan.

United Way of Mat-Su pledged a 10-year commitment of staff and resources to a community-based coalition with the goal of reducing and preventing substance abuse among Mat-Su youth.

Ripley said the coalition hints at an expansion of the way people will think about United Way because of its effort to have a positive impact on a very specific issue.

&#8220That positive impact might be just be leveling out the rate of growth, then everyone wins,” Ripley said.

Substance abuse is a big issue for the Valley, Ripley said.

&#8220Just because this problem is large is no excuse for not trying to tackle it,” she said. &#8220We believe we can make all the difference in the world.”

Already working as a coalition member is the Valley Christian Conference.

The group's role in the coalition is to communicate between churches and to congregations the coalition's goals and findings, said Stan Tucker, director of Valley Christian Conference.

The conference is made up of 11 congregations connected by similar traditions.

Churches are witness to substance abuse and its social effects, Tucker said. People affected by abuse often seek out churches for help.

&#8220As part of the healing process, during recovery, an addict needs a community that is a supportive community,” Tucker said.

The coalition will provide information to educate congregations to better help when someone is trying to step out of their addiction, Tucker said.

To meet its goal to &#8220measurably reduce per capita substance abuse over the next decade,” the substance abuse coalition is planning a coordinated effort.

The coalition will split its research and advocacy between eight task force committees.

One task force will conduct data collection, another social marketing. The coalition will dedicate a task force to keep track of federal and state initiatives on substance abuse, and one to educate youth in school, another for education outside school, among others.

Ripley said the plan is to build the coalition so it is bigger than the people involved.

&#8220People can come and go, but the agency level commitment stays,” Ripley said. &#8220We are literally at the very beginning of a huge project.”

Contact Russell Stigall at

352-2267 or russell.stigall@

frontiersman.com