The prevalence of prescription painkiller and heroin abuse has shaken the nation over the last decade and raised the attention of lawmakers across the map. Everyday, they try to find new methods or policies that will slow the growth of this problem. However, these policies and plans need funding. Therefore, the Obama Administration proposed a budget plan to help fight opioid addiction in the country.
The Obama Administration’s Plan to Fight Opioid Addiction
On Tuesday, President Obama asked Congress to spend an additional $1.1 billion to fight opioid addiction. The Obama administration asked for half of this money to go toward expanding treatment centers and the other half would go to programs, which aim to crack down on illegal drug sales, prevent overdoses, and improve the accessibility of Naloxone, a reversal drug for opioid overdoses.
This proposal reflects the administration’s ongoing concern with the epidemic that has severely worsened during Obama’s tenure in office. He has made previous changes to help federal doctors receive more training in prescribing opioids to prevent overprescribing , which our country has already seen in much abundance.
In response to the administration’s actions, Director of the White House office of National Drug Policy Michael Boticelli said “We have made some progress, but we need to do more, particularly as it relates to people accessing treatment”.
The Obama administration hopes that Congress will allocate the $460 million to fund medically-assisted treatment programs for opioid addiction, which incorporate the use of Suboxone, a drug used to help addicts detoxify from opiates. States would also receive funding depending on the severity of the epidemic in their region and their proposed strategy to fight it.
While Obama’s efforts to fight this epidemic have been criticized as subtle and ineffecient by addiction experts, this proposal could mark some major changes in drug policy across the country.The subject of addiction treatment has been a major issue being discussed amongst both parties in this year’s presidential debate. Both sides have been moving towards initiatives to expand addiction treatment services and provide more options for offenders to receive treatment rather than jail time.
Morningside Recovery
The Obama Administration isn’t alone in their fight against the opioid epidemic. Morningside Recovery is among the leading addiction treatment providers in the country and offers a variety of treatment options to patients dealing with addiction and co-occurring disorders.
If you or a loved one needs prescription drug addiction, or opiate addiction, or heroin addiction treatment. You may reach us anytime at 855-631-2135. It’s time for you and your family to fight opioid addiction, so make the call today.
