Fighting for Care for our Loved Ones

In the "What I Learned Section" of this website, I shared the challenges my daughter experienced when trying to get appropriate, compassionate and effective care. This NPR article sadly outlines that things have not improved since her death and that bias among healthcare workers is still keeping individuals with substance abuse disorder from receiving the care they need and deserve. Medications such as methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone can greatly improve outcomes and patients' quality of life, but doctors still rarely prescribe them. Addiction is a treatable medical disorder, but is still looked upon incorrectly as criminal or a moral failure. It is imperative that medical schools train our future health care workers to provide assistance and help people move toward a healthy recovery rather than hanging them out to dry. In addition, insurance companies and regulators need to be on board as well. The AMA says things are slowly improving, but many lives continue to be lost while waiting. In the meantime, parents need to be prepared to constantly head into battle on behalf of your loved one.