We asked Dr. Penny Ziegler, Medical Director, about the value of the recovering addict supporting advocacy efforts.

What are some of the current advocacy needs for chemical dependency treatment?

Healthcare cuts and carveouts related to chemical dependency treatment have greatly increased over the last ten years, and future reductions are highly possible. Furthermore, in both the private and public healthcare sectors, there is little to no parity with regard to coverage for chemical dependency services.

While alcoholism and drug addiction is no less of a disease than diabetes or cardiovascular disease, treatment for chemical dependency is extremely limited. Also, due to a strong consumer mental health movement, there is even disparity in coverage between psychiatric care and chemical dependency treatment.

How can the recovering addict be a resource for advocacy needs?

The best advocates for a disease are those that have received treatment and have gotten better, or need treatment and have not gotten it. Just consider the HIV community and, recently, individuals suffering from obesity. It wasn't solely the need for healthcare treatment; but, the strong voice of patients and their families that have made a difference in research, treatment and coverage.

It's times for recovering addicts to take action and become a unifying force to protect the healthcare needs of alcoholics and those addicted to drugs. Through the advocacy efforts of recovering addicts, their unique well of strength and success in recovery can be, and needs to be, the strongest link when confronting and meeting substance abuse treatment needs.

Today, we've got to step forward and not treat chemical dependency as a "moral" issue, but as a medically-proven disease. Not only do we have the research data to prove the disease and the benefits of treatment, we can substantiate the cost-savings of treatment services versus incarceration, crime and other health-related complications.

What about the tradition of AA/NA anonymity?

While the anonymity of AA and NA is necessary to uphold, these organizations to not require you to make your treatment and recovery completely anonymous, just your association with the organization. In any advocacy role, the recovering addict should not mention involvement in AA or NA.

How can the recovering addict get involved?

From community education to national healthcare issues, there are several ways to participate in advocacy efforts. Organizations such such as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholics and National Institute on Drug Abuse have local, regional or state chapters. While their advocacy efforts have died down over the last decade, these organizations are currently taking action to revive their voice.

If you are a physician, consider working with a local chapter of the National Society of Addiction Medicine, and, for attorneys, the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs might be a good place to start. On a more grassroots level, Join Together is a national resource center for communities working to reduce substance abuse. You may also choose to speak out on behalf of chemical dependency treatment services without telling your personal story, by voicing your concern as a voting citizen, physician, teacher, lawyer, parent, etc. to your state or national congressional and senate representatives.