Since President Nixon announced a so-called “war on drugs” in the 1970s, the discussion of prevention, treatment, and recovery from drug use has remained a constant talking point in politics. So much so, in fact, that candidates from every political party in nearly every race have dedicated at least a part of their platform to their views on the topic and their plan forward. It is these individuals, once elected into office, that put the emphasis on funding priorities and set the stage for national policy. It is also these individuals that for the past several years have focused on the criminalization of drug use and affiliated crimes without regard to growing public opinion that this is not the answer.
Despite the prevalence of addiction in political conversation, it took decades for progress to be made. In 2016, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) was signed into law. Aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic in a strategic, coordinated, and resourceful manner, CARA enhanced prevention and education efforts and expanded treatment and recovery options with an annual budget of $181 million per year. According to CADCA, this came more than forty years after national drug legislation was last passed.
In a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it was found that the greatest impact on prevention, treatment, and recovery would be through national, state, and local public policy. The caveat, however, was that the policies needed to be grounded in scientific findings rather than fear about addiction and its related consequences. The World Health Organization was cited by Science as echoing that sentiment, calling for the use of fact-based science to inform public policy. While some efforts have been made to adopt this rhetoric, more work needs to be done as we are far from where we should be.
It is more important now than ever that politicians unite on the issues of addiction and recovery. Unfortunately, this has proven challenging. Heated political battles like the ones we see unfolding each day are not helping those that need it most. While we understand that good policies do help move treatment forward, we also know that policy takes time to enact and time is the one thing that many people struggling with addiction do not have. At Asana Recovery, we do not care what side of the aisle you’re on and we’re not willing to wait for others to come to a consensus to act on your behalf.
Your path to recovery should start when you need it to, not when a politician makes that decision. Get started today and reach out to speak with a highly skilled Asana Recovery staff member. We hire only the best for every level of care, from information gathering and detox to residential treatment and aftercare, because you deserve the best. In addition to our staff, you will find we have put just as much effort into creating a beautiful healing facility to make you feel safe and comforted. Our team of evidence-based practitioners is standing by, so call us now at (949) 438-4504.
