1. Faces & Voices Of Recovery
HART
RESEARCH
P e t e r D A S O T E C I
&
COLDWATER CORPORATION
Faces & Voices Of Recovery
A survey among 801 adults nationwide Conducted April 19 – 22, 2004

2. Addiction’s Impact Is Widespread
How much impact has addiction to alcohol or drugs had on your life (addiction of friend, family member, yourself, or other experience)?
No impact
Not sure
Great deal/some impact
Great deal of impact
Under $50K income Over $50K income
Whites Nonwhites
Non-college graduates College graduates
70% 59%
62% 64%
67% 56%
Not much impact
63%
Nearly four in ten Americans (39%) say they have a family member or close friend in recovery.
Some impact

3. Public Knows Addiction Strikes Many
A majority of Americans (53%) believe that one in four (or more) people in the U.S. are currently addicted to alcohol or other drugs.
27% believe that one in four (or more) people in the U.S. are in recovery.

4. Strong Evidence Of Stigma And Discrimination
People addicted to alcohol or other drugs
85%
People in recovery from addiction to alcohol or other drugs
75%

5. Public Sees Discrimination As a Problem
Not much of a problem
People in recovery being denied a job or promotion
People in recovery being denied medical, life, other insurance
People in recovery being denied government-backed student loans
80%
10% 9%
19%
75%
52%

6. Strong Evidence Of Stigma And Discrimination
27% of adults say they would be less likely to hire a qualified job candidate who is in recovery.
43% of Americans say they would be less likely to vote for a gubernatorial candidate who is in recovery.

7. Public Sees Problems of Lack Of Treatment and Discrimination
Lack of treatment/recovery programs for alcohol/drug addiction
Discrimination against people in recovery from alcohol/drug addiction
61%
53%

8. Public Calls For Changes In Laws And Attitudes
People are ashamed to talk to others about their own/ family’s addiction
Students with drug conviction are banned from receiving federal aid for college
People seeking help for addiction pay higher health insurance than people with other chronic diseases
Companies are less likely to hire people if they know they are in recovery from addiction to alcohol or drugs
74%
67%
65%
65%

9. Support For Policies Likelihood Of Voting For Candidate Who Supports Each
Less likely
Spending in war on drugs: greater emphasis on prevention, education, treatment
Expand Drug Courts/ prison drug treatment
Change laws so people in recovery not discriminated against
Law requiring health insurance to handle addiction same as other medical conditions
Increase federal funding to prevent/treat addiction, support research
Tougher criminal penalties for drug use, stronger enforcement
81%
11%
17%
14%
19%
12%
33%
81%
77%
76%
75%
57%

10. Public Conflicted On Disease Versus Weakness
Addiction to alcohol/drugs is primarily:
Disease/health problem
Men Women
Conservatives Moderates Liberals
Under $50K Over $50K
Addiction/great impact Addiction/no impact
Know someone in recovery
39% 58%
40% 52% 61%
44% 58%
50% 44%
54%
Disease/ health problem
Personal/ moral weakness
Both equally
All adults

11. Public’s Perception Of “In Recovery”
When you hear the word “recovery, as in “This person is in recovery from an addiction,” what does “recovery” mean?
Person is free from addiction/no longer uses alcohol or drugs
Person is trying to stop using alcohol or drugs
Person has been damaged by alcohol/ drugs
Person has mental illness

12. Public Doubts The Effectiveness Of Treatment
Do the majority of those who seek treatment for addiction to alcohol or drugs achieve life-long recovery? No
Yes
Not sure

13. Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Addiction affects one in ten people/one in four kids
Recovery takes time, patience, support: must never give up
Breaking addiction cycle critical to healthy society: easier to treat in early stages
Helping achieve long-term recovery saves in health care costs, crime, toll on family
Discrimination against people in recovery unfair/ makes it harder for them
Millions in long-term recovery: living proof of real solution
N/A
79%
N/A
74%
63%
84%

14. Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a disease that affects as many as one in ten Americans. Beyond that, as many as one in four American children are affected by parents or family members with an addiction.
N/A
This argument gains broad support across all demographic groups, but the message doesn’t take us far.

15. Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs takes time, patience, and support. There are many ways that people get the help they need, and we can never give up on helping family mem-bers and friends reclaim their lives.
79%
This argument gains support across the spectrum, especially among people who have been greatly impacted by addiction.

16. Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Breaking the cycle of addiction is critical to a healthy society. It is easier and less costly to treat abuse before it becomes an addiction, and to treat addiction in its early stages.
N/A
This is the highest-ranking message among conservatives.

17. Variety Of Messages Influence Public
Very important/ Recovery Comunity
Millions of Ameri-cans are in long-term recovery from al-cohol and other drug addiction, and tens of thousands more get well every year. They are living proof that recovery is happen-ing, and that there is a real solution to the problem of drug and alcohol addiction.
This is the most important message among the recovery community, and it addresses important public concerns and misperceptions.
84%

18. Faces & Voices Of Recovery
HART
RESEARCH
P e t e r D A S O T E C I
&
COLDWATER CORPORATION
Faces & Voices Of Recovery
A survey among 801 adults nationwide Conducted April 19 – 22, 2004