The University of Washington’s recent report on drug-use deaths underscores the urgency of improving our response and services for those struggling with substance use.
Criminalizing and ostracizing has generated tragic results for the whole region. The current system turns away young adults and families who are desperately seeking treatment until they’re in a state of crisis, and even then access is limited. The good news is that Washington state has been awarded federal funding to reduce the many barriers to treatment. It will enable organizations to partner in providing treatment on demand for people in crisis — when and where they need it. It will support an innovative model that bridges primary care with behavioral-health services when people seek medication-assisted treatment.
Once these programs are in place, we expect to see death rates drastically decline and recovery success improve. I hope the Trump administration backs up its national-emergency declaration with continued funding for these critical services that save lives and lower health-care costs.
Tawnya Christiansen, M.D., Valley Cities Behavioral Health, Federal Way