My work in addiction treatment has shown me just how important it is to continue to raise the bar on treatment methodology today. The 2017 National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta served to reinforce my belief that modernizing addiction treatment is the key factor in saving more lives from the deadly clutches of substance abuse and dependency. With new treatment approaches at the forefront of the industry today, I believe all of us in addiction treatment need to make a new commitment to creating a positive environment where those struggling with addiction can survive, thrive and find new life in recovery.
Finding Common Ground
The annual Rx Summit brings together professionals and advocates involved with addiction treatment and prevention to discuss the public health emergency known as addiction in this country. The summit was first established in 2012 and includes a collaboration between lawmakers, researchers, business owners, treatment providers and others impacted by the national drug abuse crisis. I attended the conference in April and was inspired by the advancements that have been made in addiction treatment. At the same time, the information presented served as a reminder there is much more work to do.
This year’s summit addressed numerous relevant topics surrounding addiction treatment today, including the rising opioid epidemic, prevention strategies and treatment enhancements. Featured speakers included Thomas E. Price, M.D., secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., then-current United States Surgeon General, and Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
