Advocates: Obama Should Treat Drug and Alcohol Addicts Too
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
With the president and Congress considering major, expensive healthcare reform, a group representing an often forgotten group has a message for Washington: Drug and alcohol addicts deserve your love too. The Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap program run by the private Open Society Institute has provided Whispers with a poll that says most Americans know an addict and worry that they can't get the treatment they need.
"Addiction is an equal opportunity disease, as demonstrated by these research findings. It is blind to our differences, and it unites us behind a common purpose—closing the addiction treatment gap," says Victor Capoccia, director of the program. He said that only 10 percent of the 23 million who need addiction treatment are getting it.
To show support for addiction treatment as Washington debates expanding healthcare insurance to the poor and uninsured, the group produced a Lake Research Partners poll that found vast support for funding state and federal drug and alcohol prevention and treatment programs. Among the findings:
—Three quarters of Americans (76 percent) know someone personally who has been addicted to alcohol or drugs. Personal experience with addiction spans all demographic groups.
—Three quarters (75 percent) of Americans are concerned that people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs many not be able to get treatment because they lack insurance coverage or cannot afford it.
—Nearly three quarters (73 percent) support including alcohol and drug addition treatment as part of national healthcare reform to make it more accessible and affordable. This support cuts across all demographic groups.
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Tags: healthcare | Barack Obama
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addiction
Great to see people overcoming their addiction and living strong at 77.
Alcoholism, a Self Inflicted Disease
I drank for over 40 years. I drank my way thru the Korean War & the Vietnam War (Managed to blame some of my drinking on that). All 40 plus years I was a competition type drinker, always trying to prove I could drink more than the next guy. I had a reputation sort of like the old Western gunslinger and would be challenged to drinking bouts which I seldom if ever lost, if you consider the ability to lurch from one table to another while the other guy was passed out face down on the bar and driveing home drunk without getting a DUI as winning. I had to drive because I was too drunk to walk. I used to say "It's easy to quit", I quit every morning. The last 20 years of my drinking was spent trying to quit and every time I quit I sincerely meant it. Two hours later I'd be back into the jug. There is no one more sincere than a sick drunk swearing to God he will never take another drink. It never occured to me to seek medical or any other type of help. One day, 18 Nov 1986 I just had enough. After 34 straight shots of bar whiskey at 11:00 PM, 18 Nov 1986 I stood up at the bar and stated "This my last drink". I self detoxed (I thought) and hung on tooth and nail. After 62 days of absolute torture, I ended up in ER. I was puking blood, crapping blood, my blood pressure was out of this world, I had panic attacks and terrible anxiety and on top of that my heart was giving me bad trouble. Premature ventricular contractions and palpitations. Every 3rd beat felt as if I had been punched in the stomach. No wonder I couldn't sleep. When my wife told the ER Doctor that I had quit my heavy drinking suddenly, he had me transfered to a treatment center. After 28 days in Treatment pumped full of vitamin B, I felt better but still NEEDED a drink. Didn't want one, just needed it. The Doctors told my Wife, in front of me as if I were not even there, "Your Husband is a chronic alcoholic with NO hope of staying sober any considerable length of time". BUT, they recommended I attend AA on a regular basis. I did and I do. I have remained sober with no mind altering substances in my body for over 8,240 consecutive days. Within the 1st 2 years my NEED for a drink disapeared. I no longer need panic or anxiety medication. My bleeding ulcers and piles have long ago healed. No more premature ventricular contractions or heart palpitations. The old heart ticks like a Swiss watch. My wife and I will celebrate our 50th Wedding anniversary in November this year, God willing. I have never been happier. Since I sobered up I have survived Gastric Volvulus and Throat Cancer. I have learned what gratitude for what I have really is. I have learned to be happy, joyous and free. I blame this all on God and the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. I am 77 years old and still living strong. In AA we help each other. There is a saying, "When you are helping someone else up a hill, you are getting closer to the top yourself", which is exactly what happens in AA.
Treating Addiction
I think there would be fewer addicts also if the dealers were eliminated that is out of my hands and as a recovering addict i have learnt in order to change a habit you have to be the treatment
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