Gateway: Fighting the Opioid Crisis

On Wednesday, October 24th President Trump signed a new bill to help address the current opioid epidemic. What is the bill? The Support for Patients and Communities Act is aimed at resolving the ongoing opioid crisis. The bill focuses on promoting recovery and increasing access to treatment for individuals with opioid use disorders. What are the main takeaways from the bill and why is it important? This bill is important for a variety of reasons, including it: Expansion of access to Medication-Assisted Treatment This bill will allow more people with opioid use disorders to have access to treatment, including Medication-Assisted Treatment, which is extremely important. At Gateway Foundation, we know the only way to prevent overdoses and deaths from substance use is through treatment, and MAT is an important aspect of our treatment plans. We offer MAT at all of our locations and are strong advocates for the practice of addiction medicine.   Increase in funding for research Another major component of this bill is the increase in funding for research, which will be vital in developing best practices for the treatment and prevention of opioid use disorders.   Expansion of access to treatment for patients with Medicaid This bill also allows for more individuals with opioid use disorders that have Medicaid to seek treatment. This is an instrumental step towards ensuring that everyone has access to treatment. Specification of addiction as a disease In addition, the bill reiterates that addiction is a disease. This is important for reducing the stigma around addiction and the notion that addiction is a moral failing. This is an important step in helping more people seek treatment.  “Less than 15 percent of people who need treatment actually get it. The important piece for me is that we’re steering away from language that prevents people from coming forward.” - Aurora Executive Director Jim Scarpace ABOUT GATEWAY FOUNDATION Since 1968 our goal has been straightforward: help clients get their life back on track and achieve a life of sobriety, free from drug use and symptoms of mental illness. A life that is productive, socially responsible, and healthy. Gateway Foundation is the largest nonprofit treatment provider in the U.S. specializing in substance use disorders for men, women, adolescents and clients diagnosed with co-occurring mental health disorders. Gateway's professional clinicians support over 6000 people a day to successfully complete treatment by developing a personalized plan to treat the underlying causes of substance use disorder —not just their addiction to drugs or alcohol.   Call 877.505.HOPE (4673) for a confidential consultation.