New Year's Eve Poses Huge Challenge to Recovering Alcoholics, Drug Abusers

LANSING, Mich., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- For recovering alcohol and
drug abusers, New Year's Eve is one of the most formidable challenges
of the year.

On a night best-known for excessive drinking and partying, recovering
substance abusers face a hostile environment. Just ask John Andrews, a
recovering alcoholic from Grosse Pointe who is now administrative
coordinator for the Michigan Association of Substance Abuse
Coordinating Agencies (MASACA).

"Like all alcoholics, I would start New Year's Eve promising to
control how much I drank," said Andrews. "In the morning, I'd wake up
hoping to God I hadn't hurt anyone on the drive home. It's the hardest
time of year for recovering substance abusers because you're
surrounded by overindulgence -- it's impossible to escape, and there's
little empathy for those who have struggled with addiction."

"For those who battle with substance abuse problems throughout the
year, New Year's Eve is the hardest time," said Mark Witte, substance
abuse coordinator for Kent County and a spokesperson for MASACA. "The
pervasiveness of substance abuse on New Year's Eve poses risks to not
only recovering addicts, but to their friends, families and society."

Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance, and the most lethal
when combined with driving. In fact, alcohol played a part in 100
percent of snowmobile-related deaths and one-third of all fatal
automobile accidents in Michigan in 2004. These statistics underscore
the importance of designating a sober driver or calling someone for a
ride after drinking.

While substance abuse tends to peak during the holidays, Witte and
Andrews both said there are many things you can do to minimize
substance abuse and ensure the safety of your family and yourself:

* Make non-alcoholic beverages available at parties and events.

* Encourage those with substance abuse problems to avoid situations where

they might be tempted to drink or use drugs.

* Ensure that every driver is sober and find sober drivers for anyone

that has had too much to drink.

* Be a defensive driver at all times, especially during the peak accident

time between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

* Raise awareness about the problems associated with substance abuse with

your friends and family.

* Encourage those with substance abuse problems to seek treatment.

* Contact your local substance abuse prevention center for more

information on how to help recovering substance abusers and how to make

your New Year's Eve safe.

Alcohol is not the only substance that contributes to the substance
abuse epidemic. Narcotics and improperly used medications are also a
growing problem, said Witte.

"Substance abuse problems are not insurmountable," Witte said. "By
taking common sense safety measures and raising awareness of the
problem of substance abuse in our communities and our state, we can
begin to overcome it."

"I urge everyone to offer their support to recovering addicts during
this time of year, and to recognize that substance abuse affects
people from all walks of life," Andrews said. "For recovering
alcoholics like myself, New Year's Eve threatens our chance to reclaim
our lives. With support, however, recovering addicts can continue on
their path to sobriety."

The Michigan Association of Substance Abuse Coordinating Agencies
(MASACA) was established in 1975 as the voice of local substance abuse
coordinating agency directors from all 83 counties. MASACA works to
improve substance abuse treatment services statewide. For more
information on MASACA or to locate a local substance abuse program,
please visit http://www.masaca.org or contact your local substance
abuse treatment agency.

Michigan Association of Substance Abuse Coordinating Agencies, Inc.

2875 Northwind Drive, Suite 215

East Lansing, Michigan 48823

(517) 337-4406 fax: (517) 337-8578

LOCAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE AGENCY CONTACTS

Coordinating Agency

Contact Name Phone / E-Mail

Network 180

County Served: Kent

Mark A. Witte 616-336-3765

markw@network180.org

Detroit Health Dept., Bureau of SA

City Served: City of Detroit

Dr. Calvin Trent 313-876-4566

trentc@health.ci.detroit.mi.us

Genesee County Health Department

County Served: Genesee

Kristie Schmiege 810-257-3203

kschmiege@gchd.us

Kalamazoo County CMH

Counties Served: Barry, Branch,

Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Van Buren

Dr. Charles E. Spence 269-553-8150

cspence@kazoocmh.org

Lakeshore Coordinating Agency for SA Services

Counties Served: Allegan, Berrien, Cass,

Muskegon, Ottawa

Karen Youngs-Hartley 616-846-6720

khartley@lakeshoreca.org

Livingston/Washtenaw CMH Organization

Counties Served: Livingston, Washtenaw

Marci Scalera 734-544-2916

scaleram@co.washtenaw.mi.us

Macomb County CMH

County Served: Macomb

Randy O'Brien 586-469-5278

Randy.O'Brien@mccmh.net

Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission

Counties Served: Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton,

Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson,

Lenawee, Ionia, Newaygo

Robin Reynolds 517-337-4406

rreynolds@mssac.com

Northern Michigan SA Services

Counties Served: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim,

Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare,

Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse,

Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau,

Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee,

Montmorency, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda,

Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Wexford

Dennis M. Priess 989-732-1791

dpriess@nmsas.net

Oakland Co. Health Division, Office of

SA Services

County Served: Oakland

Sandra L. Kosik 248-858-0001

kosiks@co.oakland.mi.us

Pathways SA Services Coordinating Agency

Counties Served: Alger, Chippewa, Delta,

Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee,

Schoolcraft

Edward J. Sloan 906-228-2572

esloan@up-pathways.org

Riverhaven CA, a Division of Bay Arenac

Behavioral Health

Counties Served: Arenac, Bay, Huron,

Montcalm, Shiawassee, Tuscola

Scott Gilman 989-895-2251

sgilman@babha.org

Saginaw County Health Department

County Served: Saginaw

Dr. Cheryl Plettenberg 989-758-3822

cplettenberg@saginawcounty.com

St. Clair Co. Health Department

Counties Served: Lapeer, Sanilac, St. Clair

Dave Hill 810-987-8922

dwhill100@hotmail.com

Southeast Michigan Community Alliance

Counties Served: Monroe & Wayne (less

City of Detroit)

Chris Smith 734-229-3500

chriss@semca.org

Western UP Coordinating Agency

Counties Served: Baraga, Dickinson,

Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw,

Ontonagon

Mark Halkola 906-482-7710

lsauvola@ccisd.k12.mi.us SOURCE Michigan Association of Substance
Abuse Coordinating Agencies