FOR RELEASE: September 5, 2003
CONTACT: Pamela Williams
Office of Communications
405/271-5601

Interim State of the State’s Health Report Focuses on Mental Health Issues

The Oklahoma State Board of Health today announced the release of its State of the State’s Health 2003 Interim Report, Mental and Addictive Disorders. Due to its subject matter, the report was developed and issued in concert with the Oklahoma Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

The report notes that mental and addictive disorders impose a greater burden of disability on Oklahoma’s citizens than cardiovascular diseases or cancer. The report reviews substance abuse, including alcohol dependence, illicit drug use, and tobacco use and nicotine addiction; caloric addiction and its impact on obesity; depression; and other mental disorders.

The report concludes that mental and addictive disorders result in significant increased risks for several chronic health conditions as well as unintentional injuries and motor vehicle crashes. These disorders can also play a key role in suicide, child neglect and abuse, homelessness, divorce, unemployment, school drop out, unwanted pregnancies, and incarceration.

To deal with these problems effectively, the report offered the following three recommendations:

Develop enhanced population-based data systems for mental and addictive disorders.

• Place more emphasis on prevention of these disorders.
• Achieve parity in public and private health care systems to recognize, prevent and treat mental and addictive disorders.
• Media Availability on Release of Mental and Addictive Disorders

When:
Monday, September 8
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Where:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
1000 N.E. 10th Street
Conference Room 406.1

Featuring:
Dr. Gordon H. Deckert
Member and Past President
Oklahoma State Board of Health

Dr. Mary Anne McCaffree
Professor of Pediatrics, OU Health Sciences Center
Member, Oklahoma Board of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services

Background:
Drs. Deckert and McCaffree will be available for one-on-one interviews to discuss the development of this report and the repercussions of mental and addictive disorders on Oklahoma’s public health.

To schedule an interview, call the Office of Communications, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 405/271-5601.

The State of the State’s Health 2003 Interim Report, Mental and Addictive Disorders can be found on the Web at: http://www.health.state.ok.us/board/state/index.html.

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