Struggling with Addiction Recovery Is a Challenge, Yet Financial Assistance Shouldn't Be a Stumbling Block
Unapologetically Honest: A Recovery Advocate's Plea
Hey there! Let's talk about addiction, recovery, and the gritty truth behind our broken system.
Listen up, 'cause here's the deal: I'm a survivor, turned recovery advocate for mamas and kiddos. You wanna know why this fight is so damn important? It's simple: We need more dollars invested in efficient solutions that work.
Like many folks in recovery, I've got a story. My granny, an American missionary, saved my mom from the streets of Iran and funded our cushy life in Maryland. But when she passed, we fell on hard times.
We moved to South Dakota, where my mom taught music and the cost of living was cheaper. But as a new, browner girl in an insular school, life wasn't easy. I was bullied, harassed, and eventually sent off to live with someone in Nebraska. That's where the shit really hit the fan: I got abused, surrounded by a crowd that used drugs, and when we got back to Maryland, my life was forever changed.
I became pregnant, slipped back into addiction, and witnessed the overdose death of my kid's father. But I cleaned up, turned things around, and even became a successful teacher. I slipped again, but eventually found my way to Narcotics Anonymous, got sober once more, and dedicated myself to helping others like me - moms returning from prison with substance abuse issues.
Now I run a non-profit that focuses on mamas and children in need of support related to addiction. We help 'em find homes, escape domestic violence, transition out of prison, and get their kids back. But the government funding we get isn't nearly enough to meet the demand.
Over 2.5 million people aged 18 and over struggled with opioid abuse in 2021, and almost 300 people still died of overdoses every single day. Yet only 36% of those struggling with addiction receive any treatment at all. The horror!
Medication is rare, with only 22% of those receiving treatment getting it. Shockingly, most of those were urban white men over 35. The opioid crisis is a public health crisis, and it's time to treat it as such. With substantial investments from all levels of government, we can support evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.
We need a comprehensive, systemic, whole-of-government approach that connects treatment services with solid science and strives to correct deficiencies in our healthcare, justice, education, and social service systems. And guess what? Our very own National Institutes of Health agrees.
Now, some folks are working to improve our current strategies:
- Private Equity Consolidation: Private equity firms are getting into the addiction treatment game, consolidating services and boosting efficiency. Not a bad idea, if you ask me.
- Behavioral Health Software: Tech companies are developing software to streamline operations and improve patient outcomes in addiction treatment. I'm all for using innovation to make a difference.
- Legislative Support: Legislation like the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act aims to boost funding for community-focused recovery programs. Good on ya, politicians!
To fully tackle this crisis, we need to address funding gaps:
- Government Reauthorizations: Keep advocating for the reauthorization of acts like the SUPPORT Act to ensure ongoing funding for community-based recovery programs.
- Public-Private Collaborations: Partnerships between government, private equity, and tech companies can pool resources and improve service delivery.
- Consumer Tech Integration: Leveraging consumer tech for remote monitoring and patient empowerment can reduce costs and increase accessibility.
- Non-Profit and Community Support: Building on local support and non-profit initiatives can help fill funding gaps and mobilize change.
Mix and match these strategies to give evidence-based addiction treatment centers serving mamas and children the funding boost they deserve. Let's make recovery possible for families, together.
Originally published by OtherWords, 06.12.2024, under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative 3.0 license.
Extra Insights:
In addition to the above, there are several other investment strategies and initiatives being pursued to address the opioid crisis and improve access to evidence-based addiction treatment. Here are a few examples:
- Medication-Assisted Treatment Expansion: To widen the reach of medication-assisted treatment, new clinics are being established, and existing ones are expanding their services. This approach has shown promise in treating addiction effectively.
- Peer Support Services: Programs like recovery coaching and peer mentoring are becoming more prevalent. These services offer one-on-one support from people in recovery. Research indicates that these services can improve outcomes for people in treatment.
Remember, every little bit helps in the fight against addiction. So lend a hand, speak up, and join the movement for change. Together, we can create a brighter future for recovery.
In the fight against addiction, we need to emphasize investments in evidence-based solutions that work, particularly in areas of mental health and health-and-wellness, reducing the number of people like myself who struggle and suffer. As we tirelessly advocate for the reauthorization of acts like the SUPPORT Act, let's also pursue public-private collaborations, leveraging consumer tech for remote monitoring and patient empowerment, and building on local support and non-profit initiatives to fill funding gaps and make recovery possible for families.
