Congress Must Not Walk Away From The Addiction Crisis | Opinion
Summary
Representative Paul Tonko discusses the progress made in fighting addiction in the United States, crediting people in recovery and advocacy groups for changing public attitudes and policies. He warns against the recent reductions in funding and support for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which helps connect people to treatment and support.Key Facts
- Addiction is now widely recognized as a disease, not a moral failure.
- A national survey shows 52% of likely voters see mental illness as the top health concern, up from 7% twenty years ago.
- Concern about the lack of addiction treatment increased from 32% to 59% over the same period.
- 83% of voters across political parties support requiring Medicaid to cover addiction treatment as essential health care.
- Research has developed medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone that help treat addiction.
- More than 80,000 Americans die annually from overdose, though deaths have recently started to decline.
- SAMHSA provides funding and support for addiction treatment and recovery programs across the country.
- The current administration is reducing SAMHSA’s staff, funding, and programs, which could harm those relying on addiction services.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
