For our policy advocacy project, we are focusing on the accessibility of substance abuse treatment. This is a subject that is so near and dear to my own heart for several reasons. Working in a substance abuse agency, I have been witness to some incredible transformations. Individuals who were jobless, incarcerated, with no license who have become gainfully employed with their own housing and living healthy and meaningful lives. I think of one client whom I am working with in an aftercare setting. Today, she shared with me all the amazing progress she has made over the past two weeks; she was offered six jobs, she is filling for divorce from an unhealthy marriage, she obtained a commitment at a local A.A. meeting. I saw the pride in her face, and how amazing she was that she had accomplished all these things. She stated that it was only a year and a half ago she was spending time in crack houses, with no money, and no promise of a job. Now, she has purpose, meaning, and an incredible bright future. Recovery is possible.
That is what we wanted to stress in this campaign. One of the biggest barriers to substance abuse treatment is stigma. There is little understood about addiction. It is important that the general public be made aware that it is a treatable and curable disease for which their is help and treatment. Additionally, through this campaign we hoped to reach people already within recovery communities to empower individuals to raise their voice and realize the power of their story. We also shared some focus on the Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act that hopes to expand access to treatment especially to opioid dependent clients.
In addition to the Twitter campaign, a letter was sent to Senator Cory Booker asking for support for the aforementioned act.
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