Former Drug Addict Says The Opioid Epidemic Can Be Stopped With Two Extra Hires At Every School

    FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, April 30, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- According to the U.S. National Safety Council, accidental deaths from opioids are now greater than deaths from car crashes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement. Speaker and author Jack Alan Levine, a former drug addict himself, says the opioid epidemic is simply a symptom of the larger problem.

"Regardless of the type of addiction, all addicts have the same characteristic," says Levine. "The reason people use drugs or alcohol usually stems from deep-seated emotional issues, which cause them to isolate themselves from situations their subconscious/and or conscious mind perceives as painful or unpleasant. If we get to the root of these issues early enough, we can stem the tide of addiction."

Levine suggests every school in America should employ two professional counselors to work one-on-one with each student, beginning in junior high. Levine estimates the cost of that to be around $100,000 to $150,000 per school per year, which he says is a small price to pay to isolate addictive behaviors and potentially save billions of dollars in tax-payer money.

"Not every student will respond positively to this counseling, but if we can cut down addictions by 50% to 75%, we can have a significant impact not only on the immediate opioid crisis in our country, but on future generations to come," says Levine. "This will work for any type of addiction, not just opioid. The question is, what is driving people consciously or subconsciously to participate in the destructive behavior that ultimately impacts our society in negative ways? When people are no longer addicted, there would be notable changes to our welfare system, healthcare services, and crime rates."

Levine has developed an online video program for addicts called "Free for Life at Last" to coincide with his book, "My Addict Your Addict." Levine suggests a public school curriculum where counselors would spend one day per week teaching in group settings and the other four days conducting one-on-one counseling with students, beginning with students who are already exhibiting destructive behavior.

"Right now, we don't offer students an understanding of who they are emotionally and the patterns, behaviors and experiences that influence their thoughts and decision-making processes," he explains. "You would not go into a burning building, turn off the smoke alarm and think you solved the problem. You need to put out the fire at its source. Our society has determined that the cost to vaccinate against certain diseases is far better than bearing the cost of the disease itself. We should apply that same standard to addiction."

Jack Alan Levine is the author of nine books, and the founder of Voice of God Ministry. A licensed minister since 2006, he is currently Executive Pastor at Purpose Church Orlando. A successful businessman and adviser for many companies, his various entrepreneurial organizations are involved in solar energy, media, specialty food distribution, publishing, real estate and advertising/marketing/sales consulting. For more information, visit www.JackAlanLevine.com.

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