An estimated 412,446 adults and 44,277 adolescents in Wisconsin are affected by substance use disorders. While treatment is effective, many are hesitant to seek it due to the stigma and discrimination that often surround people in recovery. Stigma and discrimination can detract from the character or reputation of people with these disorders.

To remedy this issue, Madison City Channel 12 is proud to announce the addition of “The Road to Recovery” to their channel. Produced by The U.S. Department of Health and Family Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the series will air Fridays at 5:00pm starting October 6th.

The goal of this program is to promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment. Hosted by Ivette Torres, Associate Director for Consumer Affairs, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), “The Road to Recovery” covers many subject matters including: Binge Drinking and Youth, Treatment Approaches for Women and Medication-Assisted Therapies.

Madison City Channel is pleased to be working with City of Madison EAP Coordinator, Tresa Martinez on promoting this show.

Martinez stated: “As the Director of the Employee Assistance Program for City of Madison employees, I am pleased to see that Madison City Channel 12 is offering this TV series on “The Road to Recovery”. Alcohol and drug use in the workplace is one of the most critical problems faced by employers. Cost estimates are staggering. According to the Journal of Employee Assistance, the economic cost of alcohol abuse is estimated at $1.85 billion. Seventy percent or $1.34 billion is attributable to lost productivity. In addition, substance abuse affects safety, absenteeism and turnover in the workplace.

It is important that employers provide help for employees like Employee Assistance Programs (EAP’s). An EAP is a confidential program designed to help employees that have work or personal related problems. The goal is to help employees before the problem affects their job performance. Strong supervisory skills and referral of employees to the program is key to getting people that help that they need. Ignoring the problem has a detrimental effect on everyone involved. EAP professionals can provide supervisors and union stewards with consultation on how to identify the problem and obtain appropriate resources.

There is a lot of stigma associated with talking about an employee’s substance abuse problem or that of a family member. The more we talk about this subject and provide people with information and education, the more likely we are to make a difference in helping people move down the “road to recovery”.”

For additional information, please log onto http://www.cityofmadison.com/mcc12/roadtorecovery.html