For a large portion of our lives, our parents serve as our primary caregivers, guardians, role models, and (for many of us) our best friends. Once we become adults, we also earn the wonderful reward of sharing a new camaraderie with our mothers and fathers and joining them as near-equals. However, being grown adults, we also have to take care of them during their darkest hours. Although some of us might have helped our parents through an illness or a surgical procedure, another number of people have to help a parent deal with something even worse: drug addiction. Just ask Colorado lawmaker Brittany Petterson, who started fighting for her mother’s rights for high-quality addiction treatment. Let’s take a closer look and find out what action she has taken.
Preparing for the Worst
After she won her seat in the Colorado legislature back in 2012, Brittany Petterson solely focused on her career and her health, which meant breaking as many ties as possible with her mother Stacy (who had been suffering from drug addiction for decades). In an interview with the LA Times, Brittany explained that her family had always been on edge, constantly waiting for the moment when her mother would drop dead after consuming drugs, and you can easily understand their fear. At one point, Stacy’s addiction was so severe that she endured 20 overdoses in a window of 16 months, and, somehow, miraculously survived.
Working with Addiction and Recovery
Initially, Brittany was very anxious about working with topics like addiction recovery and opioid use in her new position, given the fact that the problems hit so close to home. However, when her mother suffered yet another overdose and was refused the treatment she deserved, Brittany was devastated and enraged. While her insurance only offered a 3-day detox program, Stacy clearly needed more help. According to Brittany, her mother had been a drug addict for 30 years and would need a lot more than a cluster of “healing days.”
Now, Brittany is fighting to make changes to the Colorado legislature that will require Colorado-based Medicaid programs to cover rehab programs. While these changes could add a $34 million burden on the state, it would still bring in an additional $100 million. As Brittany points out, you have to pay money to get a good product.
Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
As much as we do not like to admit it, drug abuse and addiction are not going anywhere anytime soon, but the good news is that you can easily find a way to overcome these illnesses. For many people, though, the emotional and financial burdens of wellness and self-improvement can cause more harm than good, unless you know exactly where to look to find the help you deserve. You do not have to pay a lot of money to get better.
If you are suffering from a severe case of opioid use disorder or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process detox and withdrawal and guide you through each step of the rehabilitation process to help you separate yourself from toxic drugs.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your attachment to drugs today.
