Equal Access to Substance Abuse Treatment

    There is an Opioid Epidemic that has been broadcast on local and national news channels, it is an epidemic that has taken many lives due to overdose. This epidemic is plaguing our streets, families, and communities in many ways. There are opiates being sold in our streets, families are losing family members to overdose and communities are struggling because of the lack of treatment facilities to assist the substance users as well as maintain safety.

    H.R. 4899, Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Act of 2018, is meant to improve public safety by making treatment for heroin, opioids, cocaine, methamphetamines, ecstasy and phenyclidine (PCP) abuse to every American who needs it. This bill will help identify the roots cause for use, the most effective treatment methods, and expand research into cutting edge treatment. It is also intended to create alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent drug offenses, and keep families together (Cartwright, Payne and Norton, 2018). This bill allows State, local and tribal governments to seek grants for the purpose of building and/or expanding treatment facilities, hire treatment professional and provide the necessary training and education to substance abuse professionals (Cartwright, Payne and Norton, 2018).

    While this bill is directed at every American it caters toward the under-served population. Within this bill the individuals in an under-served population are granted more subsidies than individuals of the middle and upper class. The under-served population is offered services such as vouchers for treatment, wrap-around services which include medical, dental, mental health, child care and job training services as well as training in parenting and prevention services for family members (Cartwright, Payne and Norton, 2018). When discussing the different social classes we should take into consideration that the upper class has the means to afford such services that are being offered to the lower class, but the middle class may not have the ability to obtain these services. Individuals of the middle class population most of the time are just above the national poverty line so they are unable to acquire the subsidies that are offered within this bill, which in turn may prevent them from seeking services. We need to think about what treatment for substance abuse requires. Individuals must make a commitment to change in doing so they make the commitment to treatment and all that is involved, such as counseling appointments, doctor appointments, recovery groups and the possibility of inpatient treatment if deemed fit for the situation. These commitments may take away from their ability to work the full number of hours needed for them to support themselves and/or their families. If treatment hinders their ability to support what needs to be supported there is a greater chance for them to decline services which may contribute to an unfortunate overdose in the future.

    The NASW Social Work Code of Ethics Values are principles that social workers should aspire to practice to their fullest ability. With in the Code of Ethics Values it states the value of Social Justice which encourages social workers to challenge social justice, by pursuing social change on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people (NASW, 2017). The above bill is violating a level of social justice by not providing the same access to care to all individuals which include the subsidies that are only being offered to the under-served population. With that being said we need to come together as a society and help the individuals in the middle class population, that due to this bill are being oppressed from the substance abuse treatment this bill is offering!
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