PD Editorial: Addiction is a disease, and it can be treated
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/opinion/6354431-181/pd-editorial-addiction-is-a
About 21 million Americans have substance abuse disorders. They are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and their addiction is destroying their lives. Along the way, they drag down their families and place a tremendous burden on society.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently issued a groundbreaking report on substance abuse in America that could change the conversation around addiction.
In some regards, the report contains little that is truly new. Horror stories of people whose lives and the lives of their families are ruined by addiction are common in the media. The need for evidence-based treatment is well established in the academic literature.
What makes the report so important is that brings together the data and a strategy for going forward into one readable report that contains information for researchers, lawmakers and the public.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that, in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, California had 4,521 overdose deaths. The opioid epidemic has hit localities hard. Here in Sonoma County, the rate of overdose deaths and emergency room visits exceeds statewide rates.
Nor is it just hard drugs that are problematic. About one-fifth of Americans binge drink. Substance abuse costs the United States more than $420 billion per year.
A popular view of addiction, especially among people who have no firsthand experience with it, is that it is a personal failing. The addict chose to start taking drugs or drinking too much. Personal suffering is punishment.
The surgeon general, backed by overwhelming medical research, rejected that notion. “Research on alcohol and drug use, and addiction, has led to an increase of knowledge and to one clear conclusion: Addiction to alcohol or drugs is a chronic but treatable brain disease that requires medical intervention, not moral judgment,” the report states.
In some ways, this moment is like 1964. That year, the surgeon general issued the first comprehensive government report on the dangers of smoking. Like the current report, it offered a path forward to lead to a healthier America. Five decades later, smoking rates have plummeted.
Like other diseases, treatments exist for addiction. Access to them is the biggest challenge.
Republicans in Congress and President-elect Donald Trump, should make sure that remains true. If they make good on their promise to repeal Obamacare, whatever replaces it should include a parity requirement. Often, people who suffer from addiction are among the least able to pay for help. Insurance they purchase should cover that expense to help them recover and return to a healthful, productive life.
Yet the outline of a Republican plan released by House Speaker Paul Ryan doesn’t even mention treating addiction and mental health.
When it comes to addiction, the real moral failing will be society’s if America disregards the surgeon general’s warning and fails to confront this public health crisis.
Filed under: General Problems
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More people die of Alcoholism . Why isn’t the DEA on that. . .? Maybe we should ask Congress about stopping their alcohol problems in this country . Lol
I really think they should. Why doesn’t the DEA do their job about Alcohol.
Sandrag
Ditto Sandra,,but that would require the DEA TO GET OFF THEIR LAZY ASS’S from spying on all of us, our doctors in front of their computer and actually get up and do leg work like we use to pay them for,,,Now a days all they have to do to arrest someone is look us up in their computer,,invade our PRIVATE medical records,medicines,our doctors,,then arrest our doctors for treating us w /humanity,,,,,,maryw
When it comes to addiction, the real moral failing will be society’s if America regards the surgeon general’s warning and determination that addiction is a disease as fact and allows Control addicts like the Surgeon General and those that work at the DEA, CDC, FDA and more to step all over the freedoms we have as Americans and keep following the “Communist Manifesto”! It was written to destroy!
Agreed about our once freedom,,as ADULTS,, to choose what medical treatment we choose is gone,,,What kind of country do we live in when the very document our fore fathers lived and died for is no longer conscider legal law,,,but natural law,,,,,,ie,,The Declaration of Independence,,,I wonder if THIS surgeon general even knows where or what it is,,mary
Agreed,as ADULTS,, our freedom to choose our medical care is gone,,,and I seriously doubt that THIS surgeon general even knows of a document Called the Declaration Of Independence,,,,,what kind of country has ours become when the very document our fore fathers lived and died for is not even conscider the legal laws of our lands anymore!!!MARY
i hate when people keep accepting the phrase “opioid epidemic” . Do we have an epidemic with the ENTIRE class, or just specific formulations? Or does no one care? Is it easier to be black and white? The accepting and the ignorance will only end badly for us
I Agree,,,,I do not believe there is a epedimic at all of ,”addiction,”,,With EVER PIECE of data falsified,lied,thus corrupted,,,,,ever piece of data is a lie,,,,,The government propaganda has fueled this false epedimic..I do believe w/50 % of doctors FORCIBLE DENIEING THEIR MEDICAL ILL PATIENTS WHO’S MEDICAL CONDITION IS CAUSING THEM PHYSICAL PAIN,,,FORCIBLE TELLING THEIR CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS NO MEDICINE,,ONLY REHAB,,THUS FORCING THEM INTO REHABS,,,,BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION,,,STILL IN PHYSICAL PAIN,,,ITS CALLED TORTURE AND GENOCIDE,,,With SHRINKS lieing on these chronic pain patients medical records once forced into rehab and mislabelling them addicts for the federal funding,,,its all corrupted.If I had the monies,,,i would of sued Klondyne the minute he released those guidelines and for every propagandeous billboard he has posted,,,,,,he should of been fired the day he forced those guidelines down our doctors throats,,,and the dea,,,rite behind him!!!!!!,,,,The only epidemic is the willful torture and genocide onto the medically ill w/painfull medical conditions!!!!mary
Mary, as usual, I agree with you. The way our government has redefined “addiction” is just one of the many reasons I don’t accept their numbers on how many people are “addicts.” According to them, all of us chronic painers on opioid medication are “addicts” even though we take our medication for legitimate medical purposes and are responsible with our medications.
How ironic and sickening is it that it’s fine and dandy to treat an opioid addict with prescription opioids (bup and meds with bup), a class of meds specifically for reducing physical pain, for as long as the patient feels like they need it (Kolodny’s beliefs), yet those who are actually experience true physical pain aren’t allowed to be treated with that same class of medications.
(Again, I have no problem with addicts being treated with whatever helps them and their cravings, as that should be between them and their doctor – just like it should be with chronic painers as well – but I’ll be damned if they’re allowed prescription opioids, yet someone in true severe pain is not allowed those same medications).
Friday,,i was fighting via emails w/someone from our government after forwarding that god aweful child suffering in pain,,,it was a doj email,,for the dea,,,The very 1st line in their respond email was ,”Well lets not forget about the mothers who have lost their children to addiction,,””’That is their justification for torture and genocide onto us,,,,,,,well we fought for about 4 replies,,then,,,nothing from them,,,mary