Breaking the cycle of stigma: the urgent need for addiction treatment

For years, I regretfully turned away patients struggling with addiction, denying them the treatment they desperately needed. It was a different time, and sadly, that was considered acceptable. I vividly recall a resident experience where a gentleman with evident prescription opioid dependence was dismissed and discouraged from returning.

I will forever remember an incident during my first year at the hospital when a concerned father brought his son to the emergency room due to a cocaine-related problem. I approached one of the mental health nurses, and together we delivered the disheartening message: "Sorry, we don't provide addiction treatment."

It's truly thought-provoking when we consider that one in seven Americans will encounter a substance use disorder or addiction in their lifetime, yet less than one in 10 individuals receive the necessary treatment. We stigmatize and pass judgment on these patients, failing to offer them the help they desperately need, only to wonder why they struggle to find improvement.

#EndStigma #AddictionTreatment #OpioidCrisis #AccessToTreatment #SubstanceUseDisorder #SeekingHelp #AddictionAwareness #TreatmentDisparity #BreakTheStigma #RecoveryJourney

Casey Grover is an emergency physician.

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