I am never surprised when modern science (aka Big Pharma) throws its hat into the addiction ring. Why wouldn’t the Billion dollar Pharmaceutical industry want to capitalize on the weakness of addicts and those who enable them? It wouldn’t be the first time.

I felt compelled to write about this topic after I read a headline a few days ago that literally made me laugh out loud. It simply read “Cocaine Vaccine Created”. Wow, what a dangerous headline to put out there into the media zeitgeist when there is nothing more deadly to addicts than just the notion that their addiction can be cured by a simple vaccine.

Now in fairness, I’m sure that the journalist who wrote this and the scientists working on the vaccine are thrilled by how sensational this news will be to all those individuals out there who are constantly looking for “the easier, softer way”; however, I can assure you that aside from the test subjects, the individuals writing these headlines and giving the injections are not addicts.

This is why we are in such bad shape people. Although the scientists involved probably make a reference to the need for some cursory psycho-social follow-up, they are leading with headlines that might as well read “Miracle Cure”. Addicts and their enablers want the easiest way out of the ditch and I can say for a fact that all of them stop reading after they read the words “Cocaine” and “Vaccine” in the same sentence.

For those of you not in the field of addiction or still drowning in denial, addicts will read that headline, increase their use based on an easy cure, if they don’t overdose they will find a prescription for it and ultimately abuse the vaccine…welcome to addiction 101. Again, we find ourselves struggling to undue what the most brilliant scientific minds have done. Let me be crystal clear, there is a place for the science, but the message sent through the media needs to be treated like a vile filled with the ebola virus. If big pharma and the media would like to know how to deliver their news in a way that won’t be damaging, call me directly and my team and I will walk you through the process. Until then, you are not part of the solution.

We are talking about a devastating disease that feeds on virtually everyone and got more powerful the moment headlines like “Cocaine Vaccine Created” went to print. The disease is not in your head, it is your head! The addicted brain will not only take a headline like that and turn it into a perfectly good reason to abuse your family, sell the minivan and head to the hood for crack, but it will also devour this so called vaccine by adapting and actually changing its chemistry to work around this temporary pharmaceutical barrier.

Case and point…In initial trials, the experimental vaccine showed strong results – at least initially. But, as the medical news syndicate “HealthDay” reports, it lost its effectiveness after a few months. Thirty-eight percent of the study’s participants developed enough antibodies to curb their cocaine use, until their disease and their brain got on the same page. Think about it, while this vaccine made a dent in their cocaine use by binding to certain brain receptors and blocked the euphoria, it only took 2 months for their brain to eliminate the vaccine…amazing!

I could go on forever with this topic and spinoff into tangents about Anabuse and Suboxone but that’s just the point, we’ve seen this before. The point is this, it is careless for the media and those behind the science to haphazardly release information like this to the public. The vocabulary used to describe the science must change or people will continue to suffer. The word vaccine makes people think of how they got a shot and Polio became obsolete. Well I’ve got news for you, Polio is Spring Break next to addiction and unless people are properly and responsibly informed, these scientific miracles will continue to fail.

There is a way to do this properly and it involves new language, new messaging and a whole new presentation. Until that happens, these miracle cures will continue to fall short. The model is bio-psycho-social and the “vaccine” must be presented as a combination of all three. We better start working together to fight this disease as a united front or the journey will always be one step forward and two steps back.

-Jim Bevell

CEO TSN

561 577-3174

jimb@tsnemail.com

Sobriety is still a long, tough road, although some are trying hard to find a way around the struggles of quitting a drug. A new study done at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston looked at the benefits of a vaccine for cocaine users. What they found has many people excited about the future of treatment for drug addicts, but not everyone is convinced.

The study, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), looked at patients from a methadone maintenance program that were given a vaccine five times over a 12 week period. The vaccine was created to attach to cocaine molecules, causing the body to form antibodies and attack the cocaine before it entered the brain and caused a high.

The statistical results of the study really weren’t that outstanding – 38% of people given the vaccine decreased their cocaine use, but one fifth of those given the vaccine didn’t develop any anti-cocaine antibodies. However, the idea behind this study is drawing much interest from the substance abuse field, as people dream about a magic cure to take away substance abuse. Along with this study, the NIDA is putting additional money into other research that looks at vaccines as a solution to substance abuse.

There is No Quick Cure

The problem with vaccines like this one is that they are giving hope that there is a quick, painless way to end substance abuse. In the case of this cocaine vaccine, it does nothing to reduce cravings for cocaine addicts, meaning that if someone is not already highly motivated, it will not help at all.

When someone is working to get clean from drugs, they need to confront all the issues behind their drug abuse. A vaccine won’t fix their family life, or get them a better group of friends, or help them forget about their troubles. A vaccine can’t make them stop snorting or shooting up because they crave the drug and feel sick without it. All these take time to work through, and counseling, therapy, and support groups are all needed to get the person mentally and physically back on track. For many people, the long struggle and the fight they have to go through to achieve sobriety actually helps them avoid relapse. Coming through the hardship and making it through to be drug-free can make someone stronger on the other side, knowing what they accomplished. Without the fight, sobriety doesn’t mean as much.

It is nice to help people on their journey to sobriety, and maybe even things like this vaccine will be found useful someday, but before the world gets too excited over this magical fix, we should continue to improve our treatment techniques, especially behavior-based therapy, which has been proven to work.

Sources 

Cautious Hopes for a Cocaine Vaccine

Cocaine Vaccine Shows Promise for Treating Addiction

Vaccine may Help Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

Study: Cocaine Vaccine Could Help Addicts

It seems that DJ AM was battling demons of his own, according to the toxicology report after his death. The 36 year old DJ was found to have died from an accidental overdose only days after he finished filming an MTV drug intervention series.

DJ AM, Adam Goldstein, was found dead in his New York apartment on August 28^th, cocaine paraphernalia surrounding him, Oxycontin, Vicodin, cocaine, and a host of other prescription painkillers in his body. His death has been ruled an accidental overdose, although some sources believe it was suicide because of the vast number of pills in his system.

“So Far Gone”

Goldstein, a recovering drug addict, had been working on an MTV documentary series, “So Far Gone”, a drug intervention project. In the eight episode series, Goldstein offered help to drug abusers battling their addictions. With the aid of a drug treatment specialist, AM provided counseling and treatment to drug addicts.

But Goldstein had apparently been struggling with his own addiction again. He fought with depression and drug addiction in the 1990’s, but had been sober for 11 years, until recently. We don’t yet know what caused his relapse into addiction. Some would say that being around the drug abusing lifestyle while filming the series could have led him back into doing drugs. Most of the time, however, recovering addicts that reach out and help others actually end up helping themselves. Sharing their own personal story and seeing others going through the same struggles can actually help people on both sides.

Getting Treatment

Somehow AM got back into drugs, and reports say he was planning to enter treatment after filming, something that didn’t happen in time. This brings up the question: Shouldn’t we all feel some responsibility for those drug addicts around us? We can’t let someone that we know is helplessly addicted and a danger to themselves go about their business without us saying something. Goldstein wasn’t just dealing with friends and family during his last few weeks.  He was working closely with drug treatment professional. With all those addiction specialists around Goldstein, maybe someone should have seen how bad he was getting and gotten him help sooner.

The series was set to air October 5^th, but was put off because of AM’s death. Reports this week, however, say that MTV officials have been talking to Goldstein’s family about a new run date for the show. The hope is that, given the circumstances of the show, it will be an even more powerful tool in the fight against addiction. The seriousness of getting treatment for addicts will be emphasized even more by the airing of this series.

Sources 

AM’s Death Ruled Accidental Overdose

MTV to Air DJ AM’s Drug Intervention Series

DJ AM Drug Intervention Show to Air?

MTV to Air DJ AM’s Drug Intervention Reality Show

Friday brought the report of yet another tragic death of a talented individual, which appears to be drug related. I don’t want to jump to conclusions but the New York Times is reporting that he was found with a crack pipe, crack and prescription medication.

I could write a lot about this situation since it has become an all to common headline, however I would like to focus on one aspect of this particular set of circumstances. In one of the articles I read, it was mentioned that Adam Goldstein (DJ AM) had just finished filming 8 episodes of a highly anticipated series for a major network, in which he attempted to help kids and their families, struggling with drugs. I happen to know a little bit about this production because I was approached by the show’s producers to assist them in finding individuals to help, as well as assist them with finding treatment for the addicts who wanted help.

This is a role I’ve played countless times for the media and one I enjoy as long as everyone involved id focused on raising awareness and helping those without options. Nine times out of ten the experience is overwhelmingly positive; however, my experience with this particular production company was frustrating and sadly, not unusual. I found them to be largely uneducated about the disease itself and that always poses a problem for all those involved. I was basically asked to identify individuals in crisis and then asked to wait while the casting process was performed. I found this to be a hard pill to swallow for myself and my company. I found that the bulk of the decision making on everything from which subjects to pick for the show to where to place them in treatment was centered around production concerns, logistics and politics, rather than what was in the best interest of the individuals in crisis. I understand there are issues which have to be addressed during the production of a show of this nature, however I believe that this can be accomplished while keeping the subjects’ best interest in the forefront.

I found that the people I spoke with at the production company were largely ignorant to the nuances of the disease, recovery process they were attempting to portray and the proper sequence of events that takes someone from crisis to solution. I realize that sacrifices are made when creating entertainment from crisis, however, I have to ask myself if those directly involved were more thoroughly equipped with information about the disease and recovery process, would they have been able to see that the star of their show was in trouble himself, or did they see it but determine that the show must go on? I am certainly not assigning responsibility to the network or the production company for this tragedy; however, I am just asking some questions that I believe need to be asked about this situation and to the entertainment industry as a whole.

Earlier this year I attended the Prism awards in Beverly Hills. These awards are given to the entertainment industry for the accurate portrayal of addiction and mental health issues in entertainment vehicles. There are many great shows out there that through their craft are raising the awareness of these issues in the consciousness of their viewers. Shows like A&E’s “The Cleaner” are very cutting edge; however “The Cleaner” is a fictional drama and certainly not reality. When you get into reality realm, it is a different beast altogether. Cops was probably the mother of all reality shows, where the film crew follows the professionals and films whatever happens. They are not involved in the decision making process and they do not cast the subjects. If the entertainment industry wants to do a reality series why don’t they identify a recovery professional and film them doing what they do without interfering, then they can go back to the editing room where it is completely safe and ethical to make decisions. When I need to produce a video, I go to the professionals and follow their guidance, when these production companies want to do a show about addiction shouldn’t they do the same.

Just a thought.

Jim Bevell

CEO TSN

561 577-3174

jimb@tsnemail.com

Addiction is such as harsh word, and it carries with it a number of negative implications. For example, some people categorize an addict as someone that doesn’t care about themselves, their family, or life in general. Or, an addict is the homeless person down the street. Or, addicts just don’t try hard enough at life. But addiction can happen to anyone –doctors, lawyers, pastors, housewives, college students – and people shouldn’t be too quick to categorize.

Perhaps you’re struggling with thoughts of addiction. Maybe you know deep down that you are addicted to something. These thoughts may be your first step toward recovery. No one likes to admit that they have an addiction problem, but until the issue is brought to light, the grip of the addiction will continue to grow stronger and stronger.

Physical Addiction

There are actually two ways a person can be addicted to a substance. First, and more clearly, a person can be physically addicted. This is when their body has built up such a tolerance and actual dependence on the substance that if it doesn’t get it, the body suffers withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol and heroin are examples of substances that cause great physical addiction and are hard to stop without great pain and suffering.

Psychological Addiction

The other way a person can be addicted is psychologically. This is often harder to manage. A person that is psychologically addicted has severe cravings and an uncontrollable desire to obtain the substance, and will often go to great lengths to get their hands on it. An example of this is cocaine. Cocaine does not produce very severe withdrawal symptoms, but a person that is addicted to it cannot seem to pull themselves away. The intense cravings that go along with withdrawal are hard for an addict to overcome. The drug becomes necessary in their life, and they will do anything to get it.

Symptoms of Addiction

So how can you tell if you are addicted? Where is that fine line between recreational use of alcohol and addiction, or between pain management and addiction to painkillers? While most addicts know they have an addiction problem, it might happen so gradually that they honestly don’t know they’ve gone so far. If an addict would take a step back and look at their life, they may find the following to be true:  They have built up a tolerance for the substance, so that more of it is needed to get high. They may have the desire to quit, but are unsuccessful. They will spend more and more time trying to get the substance, including illegal behavior. They will give up things that were once important to them if it stands in the way of using their substance. They will continue to use the substance even after being made aware of its impact on their life and their loved ones’ lives.

If addiction has become part of your life, remember that it can be treated. With proper help, addicts can get sober and start living a life free from their addiction.

Sources

http://www.ehow.com/about_5087236_signs-drug-addiction.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Published_Articles/Essence.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-addiction/DS00183/DSECTION=symptoms

One of the most widely used illegal drugs in the United States is cocaine, and like many other drugs, it comes from a plant that has been used for thousands of years in other parts of the world.  Cocaine comes from the coca leaf, a plant that has a long history in spiritual rituals.

Coca and Andean Indians

It used to be that in the Andean Indian culture, the coca plant was linked to a sacred goddess.  These cultures believed that they had to please the coca goddess in order to have a successful harvest.  The leaves of the coca plant were chewed or smoked to help these natives connect with spiritual beings, as well as provide magical protection and powers.

Traditionally, coca leaves were chewed only by the leaders or royalty.  Over time, however, even lower classes were encouraged to chew the leaves to experience the benefits.  When the Spanish invaded the Incas land, they tried to outlaw the chewing of coca leaves.  But it soon became apparent that the Incas worked better when they were given leaves to chew.  Coca leaves give the user a boost of energy, as well as prevents hunger.  Mood stabilizes and stamina also increases in those that chew coca leaves.

First use of cocaine

Cocaine was first extracted from the coca plant in the 1860s.  At first it seemed to be a miracle drug that was useful in treating depression and morphine addiction, and it was prescribed by many physicians for various reasons.  However, it became evident that there were some serious problems with using cocaine, and it decreased naturally in popularity by the 1920s.

It was still being produced heavily in South America and other areas though, and cocaine made a comeback to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.  At that time, it was illegal, yet in great demand.  The cost for cocaine was high, and violence became connected to the use and selling of cocaine.  Areas of cities that had many drug dealers became dangerous because of the guns and violence they brought with them.

Cocaine has had a rocky history in the United States.  There has been much controversy about the connection between the United States government and cocaine dealers.  There have been articles and books written about the CIA working with cocaine dealers to help win the war on communism.  Others argue that the aggressive role the U.S. government played in banning the drug actually led to the smuggling of it into our country.

Cocaine today

Cocaine is still being used illegally in our country by many today.  Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system, which increases heart rate and blood pressure.  The user feels a high and a feeling of satisfaction and energy.  Cocaine causes the user to disregard everything else besides the drug, leading to addiction.  For those dealing with cocaine addiction, the best help is most likely a treatment facility that offers detox, as well as long term residential care.

Sources

The History of Cocaine

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0812715.html

U.S. Drug Plague Of 1980s Was Spurred By Earlier Interventions In Andes March 20, 2009

Ayma, Evo Let Me Chew My Coca Leaves March 13, 2009

There are so many frightening stories out there of parents that have lost their teen to drug use.  Parents need to be aware of their teen’s friends and activities, as well as the potential risks for kids these days.  We have listed five of the most common substances that are abused by teens.

1. Marijuana:  Weed, pot, grass; it’s the same drug that many of the older generations used when they were young.  Perhaps that’s why marijuana is the most commonly used drug today.  “Everyone else is doing it, and our parents probably experimented with it.”  But the marijuana used today is more potent than the marijuana of the past, and the fact that many kids are trying it at a younger age means that these kids will be more likely to move on to a more powerful substance as they get older.  Plenty of lives have been wrecked by marijuana; it is not a drug to be taken lightly.
2. Prescription drugs: An estimated 20% of teens have used prescription drugs to get high.  This growing trend among teens and pre-teens is troubling because of how easy it is to obtain these drugs.  Most kids can open up their parents’ bathroom cabinet and have their choice of drugs.  Parents have been slow to catch on to this trend, and now the abuse of prescription drugs is a serious problem in schools.  Teens have begun having “pharming parties” where everyone brings a stash from their home and shares with the group.
3. Ecstasy: This drug is popular among the dance club scene and now is being marketed to kids.  With stamps of cartoon characters on them and their cheap selling price, this stimulant drug has become a popular past time among teens.
4. Inhalants:  Another danger in most homes is the presence of inhalants.  Teens and pre-teens have begun sniffing or huffing certain chemicals or household items in order to get high.  Often, teens don’t see this as being anything more than a game, and certainly don’t see it as being harmful.
5. Cocaine and heroin: These potent stimulants are causing growing concern for parents and law enforcement.  Often teens that start out with some of these other substances soon move on to more hard-core drugs, such as heroin.  Highly addictive, these stimulants cause such a high feeling that users are left looking for more.  The lives of many adults and teens have been ruined by these drugs.

A factor that is seen in many of these top substances is that teens don’t see the use of these them as being serious or harmful.  Teens are still learning and growing, there are many things they just don’t know.  Parents need to talk with their kids about drugs, and warn them about the severity of these substances.  Maybe with a little more time spent in education and prevention, these trends would not continue to surface among our teens.

Sources

Kowalski, Steve Cost, appearance of drugs appeal to teens January 25, 2009

Van Hollen, J.B. For teens, drug abuse genie is out of the prescription bottle 2/16/09

Ivers, Marianne Risky teen trends: Parents, don’t be in denial February 11, 2009

Drug Review A brief review of the most common drugs used by teens

If you or someone you love is considering treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, there are many decisions you may need to make in order to find the right facility. Below are some things to consider when choosing a facility, as well as things to expect once you get there.

First of all, it might be necessary to call a hotline to get immediate help for an addiction. This would be used when a person doesn’t know where else to go for help, or possibly someone is in immediate danger. If this is the case, the individual on the other end of the phone can give you valuable information about immediate treatment options.

Types of Facilities and Programs

If the decision is something that is thought about for a while and discussed, there are many different types of programs that might be useful. The first questions might be whether the facility offers residential, in-patient, or out-patient treatment, or a recovery house or long-term care. Some facilities are gender or age-specific, which might be particularly helpful to adolescents or females who might feel more comfortable in a setting with their peers.

It may be necessary for the treatment facility to have a detoxification program for the individual to rid their body of harmful substances while being monitored by a staff of medical professionals. After the physical dependency of the substance is addressed, the patient can begin counseling and treatment to manage the psychological dependency. Many treatment facilities have different activities to aid in this part of the recovery process. Things such as group therapy and family involvement have proven successful in treatment, as well as the 12-Steps for recovery. Some specialized facilities also provide programs such as equine therapy, recreational activities, cooking opportunities, and other things geared toward giving the mind and body something positive to focus on.

Recovery is an Ongoing Process

It is important for patients to be directed to long-term care to assist them in staying sober in the future. By learning about the risks of relapse and the skills needed to cope with stress and addiction triggers, an individual will be more likely to stay substance-free. A facility should provide follow-up services to give the recovering patient a support base when they move back into their lives. Recovery is an ongoing process. The groundwork is laid when an individual goes through treatment, but recovery continues on as the person is put back into their lives and families and has to effectively put what they learned into practice.

Entering into a treatment facility is a scary thing for most people. The unknown is hard to face. But the right facility can ease discomfort with their caring staff and positive programs. It still won’t be easy, but the goal is for the treatment to be successful. By working with counselors and staff to learn about oneself and taking accountability for the addiction, an individual can actually aid in the recovery process. So while you can expect treatment to be a challenge, it will hopefully be the best thing you’ve ever done.

Sources

T., Buddy Components of Effective Treatment Programs What Makes Alcohol Treatment Programs Work? January 22, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_rehabilitation

Of all the illegal drugs in our country, perhaps none is as well-known for its addiction and harmful effects on the user’s life as cocaine. According to a 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 35.3 million Americans aged 12 and older reported having used cocaine, and 8.5 million reported having used crack cocaine. There were an estimated 977,000 new users of cocaine in 2006—most were 18 or older when they first used cocaine. (1)

Cocaine addiction

Cocaine is a derivative of the leaves of the coca plant, which is either snorted, dissolved in water and injected, or smoked. While under the influence of cocaine, the user develops a “high”, which increases mental alertness and reduces fatigue. This high only lasts for a short time, and after as little as 5-15 minutes, the user may feel the need to administer the drug again in order to maintain the high feeling. In fact, this is one reason why cocaine is so addictive – the user is constantly trying to maintain that great feeling of euphoria.

Cocaine causes a high by increasing the level of dopamine in the brain, which in humans signals something pleasurable. In healthy people this signal is shut off after a short time, but in cocaine addicts, the dopamine is kept from being recycled and large amounts of it build up in the brain, causing the high. Tolerance to the high of dopamine is likely to occur, and more cocaine is needed to feel the good feeling. After a short time, the user is addicted and may need cocaine detox.

Cocaine’s Effects

Cocaine has many detrimental effects on the body, including headache, nausea, increased heart rate and blood pressure, decreased appetite, and problems with nosebleeds or with swallowing. Cocaine addicts are more likely to be irritable without their high, and suffer from anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. Other serious risks are heart attack, stroke, respiratory arrest, and seizure.

Predisposition to addiction

A study done by Hans Breiter and his colleagues from Massachusetts General Hospital (2) found that in cocaine addicts, the area of the brain that deals with decision making and preference is actually altered with cocaine use. The thinning that occurs in this region of the brain may explain why cocaine users become so addicted; their brain no longer cares about things other than the drug, and they aren’t able to make coherent decisions to stay away from the drug.

This study also found, however, that in drug abusers the overall thickness in the brain is more uniform than in non-drug users. Because this symmetry of thickness does not seem to be a result of drug use, researchers are beginning to think that some people have a predisposition to drug use.

Whatever the cause of addiction to cocaine, it is a disease. If you or someone you know is addicted to cocaine, it is important to get help right away. The risks of using cocaine make it a very unsafe drug, and many people have died suddenly from its effects. Find a drug treatment center to help deal with the addiction.

Sources
(1) Cocaine: Abuse With Alcohol Increases Deadliness 9/22/2008

(2) Thinner Cortex In Cocaine Addicts May Reflect Drug Use And A Pre-existing Disposition To Drug Abuse ScienceDaily Oct. 13, 2008

Cocaine and the Brain Ivanhoe Newswire Oct. 10, 2008

How would you feel if your insurance provider told you that the doctors’ visits and treatment costs for your illness were not going to be covered, or that you would have to pay a high deductible? Many people in our country are being told just that, and the reason is that the illness they have is substance abuse. There has long been a view in the world that substance abuse is a choice, or a character flaw, not a mental illness. Things are changing, however, and more and more research is being done on the complexities of the brain and its reaction to substance abuse. People today are beginning to see that while substance use might start as a decision to try something new, it quickly becomes an addiction that can’t be controlled.

Congress approves Mental Health Parity Act

Congress approved legislation last week that would change the way insurance providers handle claims for mental illness and substance abuse. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 provides “equity in the coverage of mental health and substance use disorders by ensuring that group health care plans do not charge higher co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and impose maximum out-of-pocket limits and lower day and visit limits.” Supporters of this measure include many in the House and Senate, businesses, insurance companies, and physicians. However, a few questions remained and until last week, it was uncertain whether or not the bill would pass before Congress went into recess this year. By attaching it to the Wall Street bailout bill, however, Congress was able to pass it quickly.

Help is needed

Help can’t come soon enough for many Americans struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, mental illness is the leading cause, and substance use is the second leading cause, of disability among adults. Many of these adults are not getting the help they need to recover from their mental illness, and often it is because of the high cost of treatment. Another reason is fear of discrimination from their employer if they do seek treatment.

Equal Coverage for an epidemic

With legislation such as the Mental Health Parity Act, those with a substance abuse disorder can be reassured that their insurers will not be able to set a cap on healthcare coverage for mental illness or substance abuse that isn’t set for other illnesses.

In order to deal with the epidemic of substance abuse, we need more good addiction treatment facilities, more affordable health care to addicts, and more support behind families dealing with substance abuse. Through the passage of this bill, those with addiction should be encouraged to move forward and seek treatment, so that we can work toward decreasing the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse.

Sources

Congresswoman Shea-Porter Hails Passage of Mental Health Parity Act September 24, 2008

Many State Reform Initiatives Are Neglecting Mental Illness, Says Study July 08, 2008

Layton, Lyndsey Congress Approves Mental Health Bill Private Insurers Would Provide More Benefits Sept. 24, 2008

Ault, Alicia Equal Coverage For Mental Health?
Many States Require Parity, and Congress May Order It Nationwide November 6, 2007

Curley, Bob Congress, Bush Approve Addiction and Mental Health Parity Legislation October 3, 2008