Millions find recovery

Thank you for publishing the articles on Aug. 4 about Mike Goldman, and about DuPage County's efforts to address the opioid epidemic.

Although substance use disorders can lead to premature death, Mr. Goldman joins 24 million Americans who have established and maintained long-term recovery. It is important not to treat recovery as though it were an exception. Although recovery may take a few tries, and again it is worth mentioning that relapse can be fatal, millions of people have established recovery. They do so through community-based mutual aid groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous; through formal treatment programs; through other community organizations such as houses of worship; or through some combination of all three. There are multiple pathways to recovery, and the best pathway of the one that works for the individual.

In addition, although all efforts to end the opiate epidemic are laudable and necessary, it should not be forgotten that alcoholism kills more people each year and has done so for decades. Each year substance use disorders cumulatively, kill about 200,000 people and cost society approximately 740 billion dollars through lost wages, crime, accidents, and health care costs.

Though approximately 24 million people are in long-term recovery there remain an equal number who continue to suffer from, and transmit to others, the disease of addiction. Therefore, it will be necessary to adequately fund and monitor prevention and recovery care organizations for the foreseeable future.

Joseph Rosenfeld

Elgin