This is my Platform for when I ran for Miss Draper in May 2010-
Increase Understanding and Solutions for the Disease of Addiction
Increase Understanding and Solutions for the Disease of Addiction
Every day obituaries are reporting deaths of far too many fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and loved ones due to some form of addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), every community is affected by drug abuse and addiction, as is every family. Substance abuse when encompassing alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs, costs our society more than $484 billion dollars per year. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, Americans perceive drug abuse as a major public health problem, and many of America’s top medical problems such as heart disease ($21.5 Billion a year) and motor vehicle accidents ($21.2 Billion a year) can be directly linked to drug abuse. In the year 2009, approximately 600,000 deaths were attributed to addiction. Addiction is devastating families in our communities and nation. It is a pernicious disease that affects us all.
Addiction nearly tore my family apart. I watched two of my brothers suffer with various drug addictions nearly ending their lives and tragically leaving my family in shreds. Fortunately, we have found success in the twelve-step programs for healing addicts and their families. Both of my brothers are now in recovery and doing very well. I have spent countless hours over the last two years researching and writing papers on the disease of addiction and its solutions. I have visited rehabilitation facility centers, attended twelve-step meetings, and spoken with licensed substance abuse councilors in order to further my understanding of this disease. By serving as Miss Draper and being involved with the Miss Utah Organization, I hope to give a voice to the newly found evidence of the disease of addiction. I will use this evidence to provide new awareness, hope, and treatment for those who find themselves or family members trapped in the snare of addiction.
In order to solve the problem of addiction, we need to change our communities’ mindset about what addiction really is and what an addict can do about it. Today, according to NIDA, we have evidence through neuroscience with actual brain scans that prove addiction is indeed a literal brain disease and we need to treat it as such. Like diabetes or cancer, those struggling with addiction need to be loved and educated on the nature of their disease and taught how to manage it.
97% of Utah prisoners were incarcerated due directly or indirectly to some form of addiction. According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 1 out of every 85 people that suffer from addiction actually receives the treatment and therapy necessary in order to recover. I believe that we can dramatically improve the number of relapsing drug and alcohol abusers by providing treatment rather than a prison sentence. We need to address the root of the problem - the addiction - instead of throwing the addict into a cell to work their addiction out by themselves. There are many resources available for addicts and their families in our community, but how do people learn about them? Where are they offered? Our community and state offer many free services and support groups. I am working with the Draper Paper to provide information to our community about the twelve-step meeting opportunities for addicts and their co-dependants.
As Miss Draper, I am planning to work with local school districts to host assemblies that will educate high school and middle school students on the dangers and recovery options of drug and alcohol use/abuse. I am currently working with The National Institute for Addiction Study (IAS), as well as USARA (Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness) in order to implement my plan of action. I have found recovering addicts and licensed substance abuse counselors with amazing success stories such as Alema Harington (KJazz Sports Newscaster) and Rob Walton (Director of USARA), who have agreed to speak and give educative heart felt experience on the real life dangers of addiction. Heather Anderson, Miss Utah USA 2007, has also agreed to speak at these assemblies and share how addiction has personally affected her life. I will also utilize recovering addicts, including my brothers, to educate other addicts of the success that twelve-step recovery programs can bring them. The administration at Alta High has whole heatedly agreed to host our first assembly in the fall of this upcoming school year. My main goal is to educate our community with the newest information on the brain disease of addiction, and to also inform others that addiction is in fact Chronic, Progressive, and FATAL if not treated correctly.
With the help and power of the Miss Utah Organization I can prevent and decrease the pain of addiction in our community. Draper needs an influential spokesperson who will capture the eye of the public and bring forth a change. By working with IAS, USARA, recovering addicts, industry professionals, and other national organizations, I will improve the lives of families in our community suffering from this disease. If I can prevent even one person from suffering the pain I’ve seen my brothers go through, then my service as Miss Draper will have been a success!
