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Americans Want Health Insurance To Pay For Drug Rehab: Survey

By Staff Writer

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A new report says 71% of Americans believe health insurance should cover the cost of substance abuse addiction treatment, although most consumers don’t know if their own health insurance would pay for such treatment.

According to the report from Hazelden, Center City, Minn., a nonprofit organization that helps fight drug addiction, 78% of Americans it surveyed consider drug addiction to be a chronic disease rather than a personal failing. In addition, 56% say their company doesn’t have an employee assistance program to help employees deal with problems involving alcohol or other drugs.

Hazelden also found nearly one-third of Americans responding reported past abuse of alcohol or drugs in their immediate family, and of those households 44% reported more than one family member with a drug problem.

A third of those who reported a drug problem in their said most of their family members have problems with drugs. One in 6 of this group said every member of their family has a problem with drugs or alcohol.