Addiction Advocacy Needs A Bill Gates, David Geffen, Warren Buffett, Or Tom Steyer
Addiction and drug overdoses claim one life every four minutes in America. In the time it takes to order a latte, someone dies—from an illness that is highly treatable. The addiction crisis is the result of social prejudice; criminal justice policies that incarcerate people with addiction, instead of giving them treatment; healthcare policies that make it difficult or impossible to get medical help for substance use disorders; ignorance; and “abstinence only” drug policies that are ineffective and backwards.
The fact is, people who struggle with substance use disorder are treated like second-class citizens. Admitting there’s a problem can mean losing your job, home, and custody of your children. That makes addiction a civil rights issue. And, thanks to the work of advocates across the nation, it’s finally being recognized as a moral issue, as well.
Thought leaders like Tom Steyer are helping to drive this message home. I first met Tom during the Democratic National Convention. I had just shared my experience with addiction and recovery when Tom approached me. I was taken aback by the story he shared. He, too, lost someone very dear to him due to addiction: his best friend, who struggled with addiction for decades. His friend contracted HIV and Hepatitis C through drug use, and died of medical complications due to his illnesses.
A few months later, Tom joined me at the Facing Addiction in America summit in Los Angeles, where we invited him to share his story on sta...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
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