Date of Publication

1-20-2016

Abstract

Introduction:

Alcohol and Drug Abuse: In the USA, abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly, exacting more than $700 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity, and health care.

9% of Vermont residents and 8% of US residents report alcohol or illicit drug abuse, and 10% of US adults consider themselves to be in recovery from drugs or alcohol.

Health Care and Recovery: Persons with drug addictions are approximately twice as likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders compared to the general population.

Aside from mental health disorders, other common comorbidities include dental problems, insomnia, and migraines.

The majority of people in recovery report having a primary care physician, but they receive fewer preventative health care interventions compared to the general population.

The Turning Point Center of Chittenden County: The Turning Point Center is a non-profit organization that provides a safe, substance-free environment and peer-to-peer recovery activities to assist in recovery from addiction.

Advisor(s)

Jill Jemison, University of Vermont College of Medicine

Gary DeCarolis, MEd, Turning Point Center

Agency

Turning Point Center of Chittenden County

Subjects

Access to Health Services, Diabetes, Disability and Health, Educational and Community-Based Programs, Health-Related Quality of Life & Well-Being, Oral Health, Social Determinants of Health, Substance Abuse, Tobacco Use

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License

Living in Recovery:Perceptions of Health Care and Comorbidities in Rural New England
COinS