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| Letter from the Editor, June 2008 |
| Written by Jenna Bensoussan | ||||||||
| Tuesday, 22 July 2008 | ||||||||
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Dear Readers, This is an exciting time for everyone working in the addiction and mental health field. After several years of fighting for equal treatment for persons suffering with addiction and mental health disorders, professionals in this field and advocacy groups may soon get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. In early March, addiction treatment and recovery advocates celebrated the passage of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (H.R. 1424). (The bill is named for Senator Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), who fought for addiction and mental health reform before losing his life in a tragic plane crash in 2002.) It was a rewarding experience to be among a group of addiction professionals and advocates who traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Advocacy in Action conference, co-sponsored by the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors (NAADAC) and the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). I can honestly say that I am proud to be serving people who are so passionate about what they do, and who are taking an active role in our country’s legislative process, in order to get the best possible care for people who are suffering from addiction and/or mental health disorders. During my trip to Washington, D.C., I was invited by a group of addiction counselors from Texas to accompany them on a visit to their Senator, John Cornyn (R-Texas). This group of nearly one dozen clearly had done their homework. Knowing they would only be allotted a brief time with Sen. Cornyn’s legislative assistant, they spoke clearly and concisely on how the provisions included in H.R. 1424 would benefit not only the clients they serve, but also the state of Texas. In addition to presenting a strong case for H.R. 1424, the Texas group urged their elected officials to increase funding for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), all of which are subject to sizeable cuts under the Bush Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Proposed Budget, which is now undergoing the appropriations process. The President has proposed to cut SAMHSA’s funding by $198 million for FY 2009. To give you an idea of the impact, the following treatment programs would likely be eliminated for lack of adequate funding: program coordination and evaluation (recovery activities, such as Recovery Month); strengthening treatment access and retention; and programs for pregnant and postpartum women. At the very least, advocacy groups are asking that funding for addiction research and treatment systems remain at the same levels as FY 2008. In past years, Congress has had some success in restoring some of the budget cuts requested by the President. However, the addiction coalition is recommending (and hoping) that several addiction treatment programs, such as the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) receive increased funding in FY 2009. Navigating our country’s legislative system is an exciting, and often, frustrating process, but would we really have it any other way? I urge you all to embrace your inner advocate – contact your elected officials and let them know how you feel about these issues. Now is the time – the clock is ticking! In closing, I would like to thank Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (TAAP) Legislative Chair Robert S. Miles, for allowing me to observe his team in action. They are truly a force to be reckoned with! I also would like to recognize NAATP and NAADAC for tirelessly advocating for those who suffer from the disease of addiction. As always, I encourage you to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns regarding the content of Counselor. You can reach me by phone at (800) 851-9100, ext. 258, email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by mail. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely Stephanie L. Muller Editor Counselor, The Magazine for Addiction Professionals A Health Communications Inc. Publication
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