California is currently the state with the most treatment facilities in the United States. Created by: Jill Nawoyski

To fight drug addiction and substance abuse, treatment must become more accessible from those suffering from the disease.  That includes a variety of treatment options, because not every treatment option is a perfect fit for everyone. This includes a growing positive approach to medically assisted treatment (MAT). Breaking the stigma that MAT is a substitution of one addiction for another is something we must continue to do.  

There are more than 14,500 specialized drug treatment facilities in the United States of America.  These treatment options include long-term residential treatment, short-time residential treatment, outpatient treatment, individualized drug counseling, group counseling, and criminal justice involved treatment for abusers and those addicted.

“I think the message has changed overtime to say that these people need proper treatment. They don’t need to be locked up for 5-10 years,”  Regional Outreach Coordinator for Humble Beginnings Recovery Centers Sean Rogers said. “Let’s provide them with a proper level of care to treat the individual and let’s not just stereotype that ‘oh that person has substance use disorder.. They’re abusing drugs and alcohol let’s lock them up and throw away the key.’ It just doesn’t work because our cycle is that they come out and go right back to their old thoughts and behaviors and then go right back to prison.”

Treatment can be delivered by physicians’ offices and mental health clinics by a variety of providers, including counselors, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers, as well.

While those trying to recover may relapse, we must not stop trying to get them the treatment they deserve to deal with disease of addiction and abuse.

Written by: Keith Brown