Improving Addiction Treatment Through ‘ACTION’
There’s a new movement in the world of substance abuse and addiction treatment and its acronym spells ACTION. It’s the National Adopting Changes to Improve Outcomes Now Campaign and it’s here to better the services available to those who need treatment and increase access across the board as well as keep those who are getting treatment actively involved in their own process of recovery.
The goal? Increase the efficacy of treatment for the estimated 50,000+ Americans currently undergoing treatment for drug addiction. Statistics say that about one-third of those in treatment will drop out before they finish the program. ACTION wants to change that by drawing up some simple changes that rehab facilities can make to improve services and retain clients.
Represented by government and nongovernment entities alike, some of the foundations involved in ACTION include Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS), the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment (NIATx) and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD).
Terry Cline is a SAMHSA Administrator, and he says, “All too often, people with a substance use problem do not get the help they need because of barriers to treatment. The ACTION Campaign is designed to help ensure treatment services are available, responsive, and ultimately make a difference.”
One of the biggest barriers to treatment is the time commitment that most require. Inpatient clinics are the worst with 24-hour-a-day schedules, forced classes and group meetings, which is fine for those who are ruled by their drug addiction and need to learn behavior modification and impulse control. But for those who are only physically addicted to prescription painkillers, an addiction incurred simply by following the doctor’s orders, constant supervision is not necessary. Rather, a prescription that can break the addiction without debilitating withdrawal symptoms is key and in the form of Subutex or Suboxone, it’s now possible.
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