What if? What if we looked at a substance use disorder from a healthcare standpoint?

I am a what if thinking person.    I think about things from a "What if?" perspective in how they could be better for everyone involved.

The entire arena of substance use disorders is one of those.    Historically, and even now in more situations than not, they are looked at in a way that isn't helpful for the individual to find a life in recovery.     Let me paint a picture of what I mean.

If I have a substance use disorder and need treatment it is difficult to get.    Meaning many people with a substance use disorder, even for those who might even have health insurance, have a tough time finding treatment.    When anyone says  "I have a problem, I need help", the time to get them into treatment is right now.    Not a week from that time, a month from that time, or even longer, but right when they say they need help. 

Unfortunately, in all to many scenarios they don't have access to treatment at those critical times.  A person who NEEDS treatment is told they have to wait.  They are put on a wait list for 30, 60, or even more days of waiting.   What do you think a person, who needs treatment for substance use disorder is going to do?   Yes, you guessed it, they are going to go back to use.

Now, let's walk through what happens next.   For many people with a substance use disorder, in order to maintain that disorder with their drug of choice, they steal.    Stealing is illegal, as it should be.    Now, if they get caught, guess what happens?    This.......they get INSTANT access to services.  They will get taken to jail.   They will get a bed, food, and some medical care.   But, guess what they won't get......yup, that's right, the exact thing they were begging for a week prior;  treatment.

My previous blog discussed the drug war.   One of the main negative effects of the drug war is substance use disorders being treated as criminal justice issues and not the health care issues they really are.  Also note, from my last writing, the cost.  The cost to house a person is jail is costly; very costly.   It would be cheaper to send someone treatment.  In many cases that someone might have asked for treatment already and been denied.

So, here is my "what if?"

What if we moved just half of the billions upon billions of your tax dollars that are used to fight the drug war over to treatment and recovery supports?     What if we listened to the research that clearly shows when a person with a substance use disorder has access to treatment and ongoing recovery supports recidivism rates go down dramatically?   What if we truly made a positive impact in reducing the 70,000 plus overdose deaths that happen in a year by shifting our cultural mindset in the arena of people with substance use disorders?

Call me crazy, but I am a believer.  There ARE things happening on state and federal levels to do my exact "what if's?"      Many who have control over the billions of tax dollars that have historically been wasted on the failed drug war,  are now listening and are shifting dollars to treatment and recovery supports.    It is very encouraging to see happen.   

In my own community we are seeing the positive impact on students in our alternative high school with grant dollars that are adding layers of support for students.   We are applying for another grant that will create a recovery high school.   A positive and supporting educational environment for young people in recovery from a substance use disorder.   I am highly encouraged and excited to see these things happening.

So I close with....What if?  What if we continue this movement toward treating substance use disorders as the health care issue they are, and, stop treating substance use disorders as the criminal justice issue they are not?

 

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