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About
Us
Our
Concerns
Alcoholism
and other drug abuse/dependencies effect over 406,000 men and women
in Massachusetts.
Most
families that receive services from the Commonwealth have one or more
parents with alcohol or drug abuse problems.
Close
to thirty percent of work absenteeism is related to substance abuse.
The
general public hears and sees only the devastating effects of addiction
but does not hear about the many POSITIVE effects of recovery. Participating
in MOAR allows recovering persons, their family members and friends,
to have a voice about addiction recovery.
Opiate (Heroin, Oxycontin) use has doubled in The Past 10 Years, and What MOAR?
SAMHSA, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 Statistics, Massachusetts ranks:
* 2nd highest rate in the nation of adolescent drug use (including and excluding marijuana)
* 4th highest rate in the nation of young adult (18-25) drug use (excluding marijuana)
* 2nd highest rate in the nation of drinking alcohol (for all ages)
* 4th highest rate for adult binge drinking and 5th highest rate for adolescent binge drinking
* 5th in illicit drug dependence across the nation
5 adolescent recovery homes do not meet the demand. We are concerned about the void of services for children, adolescent, and family services across the continuum
Approximately 34% of the Massachusetts residents who need and are seeking treatment for substance abuse lack access to appropriate services. (SAMHSA 2003)
Data from Massachusetts' hospitals indicate that emergency and inpatient admissions involving drugs or alcohol are increasing.
Data from Massachusetts' hospitals indicate that emergency and inpatient admissions involving drugs or alcohol are increasing.
More than 25% of the people using Massachusetts' emergency shelters attribute their homelessness to their addiction, and up to 70% report significant involvement with alcohol and/or other drugs.
Of the almost 24,800 people incarcerated in the Commonwealth's correctional facilities, 80% report having a substance abuse problem, 20% have a governing offense that is drug related, and 21% are incarcerated for offenses committed to support their drug use
HealthCare Professionals lack sufficient expertise in alcohol and other drug
addiction
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Objectives
Open
access to treatment
Removal
of administrative obstacles to treatment
Insurance Coverage:
for Long Term Medical and Recovery Skill Building;
for Appropriate Length of Outpatient Level of Care;
Reimbursement Mandated for Licensed Alcohol and
Drug Counselors I;
Parity - equal standards of coverage when
compared to other health care
Advocating for Treatment in Prison and society re-entry support
Alternative
sentencing programs
Improved
physical facilities/buildings for treatment and rehabilitation
services
Student assistance programming
Peer education in schools.
Improved and INCREASED treatment services for incarcerated addicts
Expansion of the recovery home network
Sober housing
Recovery programs with work experience components
Expansion of academic education for health care workers and other professionals
Peer to Peer Recovery Support Services
Recovery High Schools
Adolescent Recovery Homes in every county
Increased Family and Youth Services
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Our
Approach
The members of MOAR promote public awareness of alcoholism, drug dependency
and substance abuse by:
Recruiting recovering persons, their family members and friends, to
join MOAR. Helping them to speak out regarding the benefits of recovery,
and the social costs of addiction in our communities and the workplace.
Celebrating "Recovery Day" at the State House every year
by inviting recovering persons, policy makers, legislators, treatment
providers, and others to meet together. We discuss our accomplishments,
as well as the continued need for public education and awareness about
addiction.
Offering community education about the need for
Insurance Reimbursement for Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor I to protect the public, and acknowledge the SPECIAL SKILLS and methods needed to successfully intervene with persons suffering from addiction.
Educating
insurers, HMOs and other third party payors regarding the need for equal
access to an adequate treatment benefit.
Partnering
with treatment providers to assure access and quality care for addicts
and their families.
Educating
health care providers and the public to reduce the stigma of addiction,
while promoting the recognition of addictive disorders as a public health
problem.
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Our
Concerns | Objectives |
Approach
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