Pubdate: Thu, 29 Nov 2012
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Suzanne Miller
Page: 23A

FINDING A SOLUTION TO HEROIN ADDICTION

"Drug's fierce hold gripped woman till her death at 22," Nov. 26 news
story. My heart goes out to the family of Amanda Landry. I understand
the pain, frustration and devastation her adoptive parents experienced
trying to help their daughter get clean. How many more young people
must die before we change the way we view and treat addiction?

How many more parents have to receive the news that their son or
daughter overdosed and died needlessly because adequate treatment was
unavailable due to lack of knowledge, resources or health insurance?

My daughter once roamed the same streets of Denver, addicted to the
same insidious, soul-destroying drug. After several years of begging
and pleading with health insurance companies, social services, police,
treatment providers, etc., for help, I came to the sobering
realization that my daughter would not survive unless I borrowed the
money to pay for her treatment.

Today, my daughter is alive and well because she accepted the gift of
treatment at a holistic, nontraditional treatment facility in
California. Treatment works, but it is costly, and most health
insurance agencies do not cover residential treatment or provide
emotional support to the family members of substance users.

As an addictions counselor, I have witnessed many individuals turned
away from detox and treatment because they do not have the funds to
pay for the services that will inevitably save their lives. Addiction
is a medical condition that requires treatment, yet it is still
perceived as a moral issue. An ounce of prevention (treatment) could
save a pound of cure (skyrocketing medical costs due to untreated
substance abuse).

So what is the solution? We need to replace our egos and judgment with
loving kindness and resources to treat addictions. Perhaps the
millions of dollars in profit drug dealers and pharmaceutical
companies make could be utilized for funding treatment to save human
lives.
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MAP posted-by: Matt