WASHINGTON (Diya TV) – A federal report released Thursday urges the American public to shift the direction in the way it addresses substance abuse, finding one in seven Americans will face such disorders. Only 10% of those addicted receive treatment, the study said.
“Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health” marks the first report from a U.S. surgeon general dedicated to substance addiction, raising the profile of the widespread epidemic and advocating proven treatment options.
Unfortunately, not every addict has the resources to go to a rehab facility like The Ohana and seek treatment for their addiction. The fact that an American dies every 19 minutes from a heroin or opioid overdose spells out the ultimate cost of substance abuse, the report said. The economic impact of drug and alcohol misuse and addiction amounts to $442 billion each year – topping diabetes at $245 billion, said Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general.
“At a time when we are resource-constrained already, we cannot afford, for humanitarian reasons or financial reasons, to not address addiction in America,” Murthy said in an interview with USA TODAY.
The report gets political in the sense that it suggests a paradigm shift on addiction that removes the stigma from addiction, creating more patients and fewer prisoners.
“We have to recognize (addiction) isn’t evidence of a character flaw or a moral failing,” Murthy said. “It’s a chronic disease of the brain that deserves the same compassion that any other chronic illness does, like diabetes or heart disease.”
Nearly 21 million Americans struggle with substance addictions, according to the report. That’s more than the number of people who have all cancers combined.
One bright spot for those seeking treatment from somewhere like this rehabilitation center in California has been the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, Murthy said, which opened up 20 million to receive health insurance. The law, along with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, increased access to addiction treatment services.
Murthy’s announcement comes just on the heels of the news that Obamacare could be repealed – President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign has been extremely critical of the bill from its inception. Whatever happens in the next four years, Murthy has only one suggestion: Continuing to expand coverage will remain key to addressing addiction.
