{"id":109899,"date":"2019-11-26T13:05:57","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T18:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=109899"},"modified":"2019-11-26T13:05:57","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T18:05:57","slug":"brindisi-introduces-bipartisan-resolution-to-stop-the-stigma-and-recognize-addiction-as-a-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=109899","title":{"rendered":"Brindisi introduces bipartisan resolution to stop the stigma and recognize addiction as a disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Rep. Anthony Brindisi<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi: Our communities have suffered enough; we need\nresponsible treatment and enforcement to combat addiction <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congressmen Anthony Brindisi and Republican Congressman Ted\nBudd (NC-13) introduced a bipartisan resolution officially recognizing\naddiction as a treatable disease. Brindisi, an advocate for mental health care\nand ardent fighter of the opioid crisis, worked with medical professionals and\nadvocacy groups to introduce this bipartisan measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur communities have seen too many families torn apart by\naddiction through the opioid crisis, fentanyl entering our communities, and\nother substance abuse,\u201d Brindisi said. \u201cWe need to work together to\nensure appropriate treatment for these people who are afflicted with addiction.\nIn order to tackle this crisis, we need to destigmatize treatment, increase\n science-based approaches, and make sure communities have the education\ntools necessary to help addicts and their families. This resolution, and other\nbipartisan work I am leading in Congress, will help do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi\u2019s resolution is supported by leading medical and\nadvocacy groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe American Society of Addiction Medicine applauds\nCongressional leaders for recognizing addiction as a chronic, treatable medical\ndisease and for resolving to ensure that high-quality, evidence-based addiction\ntreatment is available to all Americans who need it,\u201d said Paul H. Earley,\nMD, DFASAM, president of ASAM. \u201cPublic acknowledgement by our nation\u2019s\npolicy leaders is important to ongoing efforts to destigmatize addiction,\naddress this disease compassionately and effectively, and save lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in\n2017, 19.7 million Americans suffered with a substance use disorder. \nCongress must do more to deliver help to the American people. This resolution\nis an important step in acknowledging addiction as a treatable, chronic\nmedical disease, which will open up new, more effective avenues for prevention,\ntreatment, remission, and recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi\u2019s resolution would:<\/p>\n\n\n\n