Addiction recovery is near and dear to our heart because access to recovery can mean life or death for someone struggling. While there are a lot of amazing facilities doing extremely important work, finding effective programs that use evidence-based care isn’t as easy as it should be for the almost 21 million Americans suffering from one kind of addiction or another.
Not only is it nearly impossible for patients to know which programs are best for their type of addiction, but patients and families desperate for treatment are often subject to deceptive business activities that go unregulated by the federal government. Aside from the stigma attached to being a person in recovery from alcohol & drug addiction, patients have to wade through misleading sales tactics, deceptive advertising, unethical marketing, and healthcare insurance fraud to find the help they need. Oftentimes, they’re left in crushing debt without the tools they need to heal.
Even with addiction being one of the biggest public health crises in the country, healthcare providers receive little training in addiction. This, coupled with the lack of oversight, leads those seeking treatment to buy into costly for-profit rehab centers that charge inflated rates for spa-like amenities that have no therapeutic value.
While there’s a lot that needs to be done to improve this system, there are a few ways you can get involved in advocating for addiction recovery reform right now:
Educate Yourself
In 2003, addiction treatment was a $21 billion industry. Now, it’s a $35 billion industry and growing.
- Look into the accreditation standards for clinicians serving addiction recovery in your state.
- Read up on the flaws & pitfalls present in the recovery system.
Volunteer
Giving your time is a great way to build community. Show your support and change someone’s life in a real way. Some ways you can do this are:
- Activate your neighbors to collect donations for sober living facilities in your community.
- Participate in a training to learn how to offer support to someone with an addiction.
- Encourage alcohol and drug prevention programs in your schools.
Advocate for Change
Help pass legislation that develops evidence-based programs, creates awareness, reduces stigma, and builds connections between family support networks.
- Call your representatives and urge them to cosponsor the Family Support Services for Addiction Act (H.R. 5572).
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1 comment
Hello! I was wondering if you had any specific information about the programs people who receive your scholarship attend. Are they given the scholarship to attend any program of their choice or is CLEAN partnered with specific ones? Any information would be greatly appreciated.