Welcome to the City of Angels Advocacy Page!
We know that change is possible, and we are getting the word out to our friends, communities and policymakers to mobilize for that change.
Together we can influence the implementation of policies that address the harms of substance-use through prevention, education and treatment while developing solutions that promote recovery and the upholding of the sovereignty of individuals over their own minds and bodies.
Together as a community , we can tackle the serious problem of heroin and prescription drug addiction in Mercer County and work towards a solution to the current heroin & opioid epidemic plaguing our community and nation. This health epidemic is a having devastating effect on families and claiming the lives of more and more residents every day. We have to do our part as a community to help raise awareness and come up with solutions to this problem.
The task force will be charged with increasing awareness of prescription opiate and heroin abuse and addiction, aimed at reducing the demand for heroin and prescription drugs. They will also promote available resources for help and support the development of additional resources to treat and prevent addiction to heroin and prescription drugs. The task force members will serve as liaisons to state and local community awareness groups as well as non-profit groups and drug addiction service providers.
ItStopsNow.com
The Obama Administration has made comparable insurance coverage, parity, a priority. Because of our efforts and those of the dedicated advocates, legislators, and stakeholders who fought for people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders before us, we have improved insurance coverage for over 170 million people. But, there is so much more work to be done to ensure everyone has access to the services they need.
Last month, the President the President created a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force which is tasked with increasing awareness about comparable insurance coverage, improving understanding of requirements for health plans, and increasing transparency around compliance with the law. The Task Force wants to hear from you, from patients, families, consumer advocates, health care providers, insurers, and other stakeholders on their experiences and difficulties with accessing services and coverage. This is also why the President continues to seek $1.1 billion from Congress to tackle the opioid crisis, among other key investments.
Share your comments, experiences, and recommendations with the Task Force. Or, submit your comments by sending an email to parity@hhs.gov.
ONDCP is sharing a copy of the following article from the Boston Herald for informational purposes only.
Governor Joins Call to Back President’s Opioid Plan
WASHINGTON – Gov. Charlie Baker joined the Bay State’s Democratic congressional delegation in calling for Congress to back President Obama’s $1.1 billion plan to address the opioid abuse crisis in Massachusetts and beyond. ‘I appreciate the fact that Congress is working on this,’ the Republican governor said of the bipartisan package of bills passed by the House last week aimed at stemming the opioid crisis, which included bills from Bay State Reps. Katherine Clark and Joseph Kennedy III.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/2016/05/governor_joins_call_to_back_president_s_opioid_plan
Summary: Congress should fully fund the President’s $1.1 billion request to fight the opioid epidemic so every American with an opioid use disorder who wants treatment can get it.
Prescription drug abuse and heroin use have taken a heartbreaking toll on too many Americans and their families, while straining resources of law enforcement and treatment programs. More Americans now die every year from drug overdoses than they do in motor vehicle crashes.
The President has made clear that addressing the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic is a priority for his Administration, and has proposed to invest $1.1 billion in new funding to make sure that every American with an opioid use disorder who seeks treatment can get the help needed.
Congress has been voting on various pieces of legislation related to the opioid epidemic, but so far has not provided the resources needed to make treatment available to everyone who wants it.
Yesterday, a majority of Senators-both Republicans and Democrats–voted in favor of developing a final bill that provides enough money for prevention, treatment, and recovery to address the opioid epidemic (You can see how Senators voted HERE). A few members of Congress will be negotiating the final legislation in the coming days (Those “conferees” are listed HERE). But they are not bound by the Senate vote to provide funding, and they haven’t agreed on the actual amount of funding to provide.
The President has said he wants to sign legislation that includes $1.1 billion in new funding to help Americans who want treatment get it wherever they live. This map shows how much new funding for treatment each State could potentially qualify for if Congress passes what the President has requested:
