10% of US adults in recovery

Ten percent of all US adults -- 23 million -- consider themselves to be in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse problems, a survey indicated. The survey by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and the New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services asked Americans questions such as "Did you once have a problem with drugs or alcohol, but no longer do?" The self-reported findings include: 12 percent of men said they were in recovery versus 7 percent of women. More adults ages 35-44 report being in recovery, compared with younger adults ages 18-34 and adults who were 55 years of age or older. The Midwest has a higher prevalence of adults, at 14 percent, who said they were in recovery compared with 7 percent of adults in the South, 11 percent in the West and 9 percent for the Northeast. The study also found no significant difference between parents and adults without children who say they are in recovery. "I've learned that there is 'a science of addiction, but not a science of recovery.' With the survey, we now have a very strong beginning to developing that science," A.Thomas McLellan, former deputy director, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said in a statement. "Through past initiatives, we established some sensible definitions of what 'being in recovery' actually means -- and this additional work provides fundamental information on how many people are in recovery." No survey details were provided.