Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2005
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2005 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Neal A. McGarry
Note: Neal A. McGarry is executive director of the Florida Certification 
Board in Tallahassee

DISCUSSING RECOVERY IS A CHOICE

Syndicated columnist Clarence Page's March 8 commentary about Doug Wead's 
disclosure of President Bush's alleged past use of drugs highlights just 
how far our country needs to go before we can have straight talk about 
recovery.

Page, contending that Bush's reluctance to make a public avowal of his 
experience with drugs and alcohol is wrong-headed, ignores the fact that 
recovery is a personal experience. Telling one's recovery story should 
remain a personal choice.

Addiction and substance abuse still carry significant stigma in our 
society, despite scientific discoveries that recognize the role that brain 
chemistry plays in the addictive process.

Those in the addiction field work diligently every day to help persons who 
suffer from this devastating brain disease to reclaim their lives. They are 
aided in this work by those who have the courage to tell their stories of 
recovery. To be certain, many people in the public eye have chosen to be 
among those who speak out -- and many have not. It is important to support 
these individual choices in order to provide a safe climate and an 
assurance of confidentiality for those who have yet to take the important 
step of seeking treatment.

The need for confidentiality in addiction treatment is so great that there 
is a specific federal law governing records of such treatment. Whether or 
not he sought treatment, Bush should have the same rights to 
confidentiality as any other person with an addiction or substance abuse 
problem. Wead's choice to "out" the President as a past user of drugs is 
mean-spirited and deplorable and does nothing to further the dialogue on 
how to prevent our young people from falling prey to the perils of addiction.

We agree with Page that U.S. Rep. Mark Souder's efforts to correct the 
flaws in the legislation that bars college students with past drug 
convictions from receiving federal assistance is an important step in 
helping people to lead productive lives following addiction treatment. 
Souder has said he would like to amend the legislation to ban only those 
who are convicted while they are students or loan applicants from receiving 
federal assistance. This would enable many persons in recovery to enter the 
education system once they are maintaining a clean and sober life.

Finally, Page's contention that Bush has been silent on the issue of 
addiction is not accurate. The president's Access to Recovery initiative, 
currently under way in 14 states and one tribal organization, authorizes an 
appropriation of $100 million to provide people seeking drug and alcohol 
treatment with vouchers for a range of community-based services. By 
providing vouchers, the grant program promotes client choice, expands 
access to support services, including services provided by faith- and 
community-based programs, and increases substance abuse treatment capacity.

The most important "straight talk" we can have about recovery is that, 
currently, 85 percent of the people who meet clinical criteria for needing 
substance abuse treatment did not receive treatment and felt no need for 
treatment, while only 8.6 percent of them actually received the treatment 
that they needed.

Many factors contribute to this sad statistic. Lack of public education, 
the power of denial and stigma are barriers that those in the media -- and 
in the public eye -- can do something about. Shaming and blaming those with 
a past drug use history is not the way to further the dialogue and open the 
doors to recovery.

Creating a climate that supports recovery is everyone's job. Straight talk 
- -- and lots of it -- is a necessity.
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MAP posted-by: Beth