WHEREAS, substance use disorders impact 22.6 million people aged 12 or older in the United States (or 9.2 percent of the population), which is more than the number of people living with coronary heart disease, cancer, or Alzheimer’s disease combined; and

WHEREAS, at least 191,000 Nevada residents have substance use disorders and only an estimated 39,000 have accessed our area’s treatment centers; and

WHEREAS, substance abuse treatment is cost effective, with some measurements showing a benefit-to-cost ratio of up to 7:1 and treatment reduces reported job problems, including incomplete work and absenteeism, by an average of 75% percent; and

WHEREAS, studies have consistently found that individualized treatment is essential forpeople to be successful in their path of recovery; and

WHEREAS, it is critical that we educate our community members that substance use disorders are treatable, yet serious health care problems, and by treating them like other chronic diseases, we can improve the quality of life for the entire community; and

WHEREAS, treatment and long-term recovery from substance use disorders can offer a renewed outlook on life for those who are addicted and their family members; and

WHEREAS, to help achieve this goal, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Mental Health and Developmental Services Division, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency; Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies; Nevada Alliance for Addictive Disorders, Advocacy, Prevention and Treatment Services; Community Counseling Center; Lyon Council on AOD; Vitality Unlimited; New Frontier; Westcare Nevada; Sierra Recovery Center; Adelson Clinic; Bridge Counseling Associates; Community Counseling Center; Family & Child Treatment of Southern Nevada; Help of Southern Nevada; Las Vegas Indian Center; Nevada Treatment Center; Salvation Army; Family Counseling Services of Northern Nevada; Quest Counseling and Consulting; The Ridge House; Step 2; Bristlecone Family Resources; Churchill Community Coalition; Community Council on Youth; Eastern Nevada Communities Coalition; Frontier Communities Coalition; Goshen Community Development Coalition; Healthy Communities Coalition; Join Together Northern Nevada; Luz Community Development Coalition; Nye Communities Coalition; Partners Allied for Community Excellence; Partnership of Community Resources; and the Statewide Native American Coalition invite all residents of Nevada to participate in National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month; and

NOW, THEREFORE I, GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS, OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2008, as,

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION RECOVERY MONTH