Envision a more humane world for people with addiction

Why do we prioritize alcohol?

Often overshadowed by the opioid crisis, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the fourth leading cause of preventable death in the United States and deserves dedicated resources. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 21.3 million Americans suffer from AUD, an additional 7.5 million Americans have a substance use disorder involving alcohol and another drug, and, according to the Center for Disease Control, 178,000 people die from alcohol-related causes in the U.S. every year. A recent Surgeon General’s report links alcohol use to an increased risk of contracting at least seven types of cancer. It is time to treat AUD as the crisis it is and to devote attention and funding to helping people recover.

Evidence-based, effective treatments exist— people can and do recover— but there's no one-size-fits-all solution, and the quality and availability of care can be uneven. There are gaps in the transitions from seeking care to entering treatment, from leaving treatment to early recovery, and from early recovery to sustained recovery. Further, despite parity laws that require substance use and mental health care to be paid by insurance, there are often complications and roadblocks in the American healthcare system that prevent people from getting the care they need.

PGDF sees opportunities for impact where options for improving care can be found, where leaders in the field can be convened to work together, and where people can be encouraged to use a variety of tools to strengthen their resilience and make changes.