Contact: Colleen Roche or Brenda Perez 212 788 2958
(City Hall) Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today proclaimed April, 1997 as Alcohol and Substance Abuse Awareness Month in the City of New York. The Mayor was joined by Neal L. Cohen,M.D., Commissioner of the City's Department of Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services, whose agency is sponsoring educational activities throughout the City to raise awareness about the devestating impact alcohol and other drugs have on public health.
"Addiction to Alcohol and other drugs afflicts hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, regardless of age, sex, race, social or economic background," said Mayor Giuliani. :Substance abuse ruins the lives of both the abusers and their loved ones, and is to blame for serious health problems, domestic violence and, in some cases death. Alcohol and drug abuse now cost the City of New York between 10 and 12 billion dollars a year in health and social services, accident-related costs and loss of productivity in the work place.
"Education, community-based treatment and prevention programs are essential in winning this fight and I commend Dr. Cohen and the Bureau of public awareness. Only with adequate information will we be fully prepared to alleviate the human suffering associated with this disease. It is imperative that all New Yorkers join our fight against alcohol and drug abuse," concluded the Mayor.
Dr. Cohen noted that people who successfully go through treatment for addictive diseases make vital contributions to our city every day. "People like Doc Gooden, who has been honored by Mayor Giuliani here at City Hall, exemplify all the real hereos who beat alcoholism and drug abuse every day. They are an asset to the City's fight against this disease."
Of an estimated 10 million Americans affected by sddiction to alcohol and other drugs, more than 850,000 live in New York City.