Most in the public only view the term “addiction” in terms of illicit drugs and alcohol, but the recent spate of celebrity deaths connected to prescription drug abuse has begun to raise the public awareness of addiction to drugs other than illicit ones. Even so, the public and policymakers remain largely unaware of what makes [...]

For years the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Parity Act was just a dream. The law itself passed in 2008, but just two weeks ago it actually went into effect. Exactly what this means for our field has yet to take shape but the idea that mental health problems are finally understood to have the [...]

For the past year, health care reform has dominated the headlines and monopolized the time of Congress and the White House.  Not since 9/11 has all of Washington been singularly focused on one issue. While the legislation going to conference between the House and Senate is over 1,900 pages, there are parts that apply to [...]

For several months, the advocacy community for addiction prevention and treatment has followed the review process that is examining whether a merger between the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is in the best interests of research and the public.  Both institutes are part of [...]

What began as a campaign slogan evolved into an important component of every campaign speech and now is the subject of every political commentary – HealthCare Reform.  Over the past year all of us have been subject to information, misinformation, suggestions, demands, proposals, analysis and every other gyration possible as we have marched toward self [...]

In many jurisdictions, a non-violent drug crime such as simple possession is a misdemeanor.  First-time offenders rarely receive jail time.  Yet a conviction for possession of a controlled substance could have a substantial impact on a young person’s future, especially if they have designs on attending college. The Higher Education Act (HEA) was signed into [...]

Needle exchange programs that run on state, local, and private dollars exist all over the country. There are currently over 200 programs in 14 states.  Several major cities have needle exchange programs.  In San Francisco, there is one operated by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.  In Baltimore, one is run by the Baltimore City Health [...]