We are in the midst of a major medical problem that is affecting our families, our health, our economy, our resources and even more importantly our sense of who we are. We have become trapped in world with competing demands and multitasking that tempts our brain from relief. Unfortunately this relief can easily come from the use of substances and behaviors to provide temporary pleasure and often permanent self destruction.

Cocaine, Alcohol, Stimulants, pain killers and hallucinogenic substances has permeated our daily lives. Our free will is easily challenged by this new epidemic. The cost indirect and direct costs from addictions are staggering. The estimated annual cost of alcohol abuse and dependence in the United States is $185 billion, and approximately 20-40% of hospital admissions are alcohol related. The estimated costs of illicit drug use in the United States amount to over $160 billion annually Also the cost of health is shrinking the resources to help people with addictions. Often the payment for addictions and its associated behavioral problems are often limited.

We are now faced with a challenge of global proportions. If the issue of Global Warming is an inconvenient truth then addiction is one of an uncompromising truth. The cost of the most expensive recently was hurricane Andrew, the amount was $20.3 billion dollars. Now compare this to the annual cost of substance abuse.

Fortunately the medical community, research organizations, pharmaceutical companies, talented medical investigators, volunteer organizations, families from destroyed lives of addiction, the media and school systems have responded to this challenge. We now have many new technologies and treatments to help addicted individual overcome this medical illness.

I emphasize medical illness because addictions alter brain chemistry making the victim totally vulnerable to the neuro-chemical ravages of cocaine, meth, alcohol and other mind altering chemicals.

But I am only discussing addictions.