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Recovering Purpose
by Alexandra Porter

Jerome Stephens is a recovering addict living in Hillsborough, N.C. Since he got clean almost three years ago, he has made progress in starting his life over by going to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings regularly, having a place to live, working, and staying out of jail. He is using the support of the meetings and other recovering addicts to guide him through his most recent obstacle: getting laid off from a steady job at the power company. Stephens looks forward to getting another job so he can stay on his path of recovery and continue rebuilding his life.

Links

Alcoholics Anonymouse
www.aa.com

Narcotics Anonymous
www.na.com

Drinking Self Test
www.alcoholscreening.org

The Employment Security Commission of North Carolina:
www.ncesc.com

Facts

  • 9.2% of the U.S. population is dependent upon or abuses alcohol or illicit drugs every year.

  • 8.5% of the population of North Carolina is dependent upon or abuses alcohol or illicit drugs every year.

  • 2.5% of the U.S. population needs but does not receive treatment for an illicit drug problem every year.

  • 2.69% of the population of North Carolina needs but does not receive treatment for an illicit drug problem every year.

  • 7.3% of the U.S. population needs but does not receive treatment for an alcohol problem every year.

  • 6.26% of the population of North Carolina needs but does not receive treatment for an alcohol problem every year.

  • 10.7% of the population of North Carolina is unemployed, as of October 2009.

Sources: National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health (2007) & the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics

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