Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

• For my issue/ problem I chose Substance Abuse, and for my objective I chose 26-7. Reduce intentional injuries resulting from alcohol- and illicit drug-related violence.
• The current legislation I found that has been proposed to address issues of substance abuse is H.R.439
  
  Title: To amend the Public Health Service Act regarding residential treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women, a program to reduce substance abuse among nonviolent offenders, and for other purposes.

When someone is using drugs and alcohol and they turn violent it affects everyone around them.  Their friends family and coworkers.

• Young children and spouses, and close family members are the most affected by violent actions of a loved one.
  
• Whether it is a wife, husband, son, daughter, mother, father, brother or sister losing someone to substance is a very hard thing.
  
• Noone is gaining anything by using drugs and alcohol and turning to violence.But by implementing this bill there would be more resources for the non violent users to seek out help.
  

Consequences of the issue...

• The abuser will destroy many relationships in their life, and put their health in danger.
  
• The families of an substance abuser may never forgive or forget the actions of their loved one when they were using.  The bill would help these families get help with getting off drugs and turning their lives around.
  
• By providing more support for the nonviolent abusers we are doing a service to society by reducing the amount of people abusing drugs and alcohol, therefore encouraging others to stop as well.
  

Economic Impacts of the Issue....

• The cost of a bill like this would be the funding for the support programs the bill would put into effect.  But, at the same time it would also be reducing costs in other areas.  When a low income substance abuser gets into a bar fight and goes to the hospital who do you think picks up the bill.... tax payers.
  
• So the taxpayers could be putting their money towards prevention instead of cleaning up the aftermath of drug abusers.
  

Social Impacts of the Issue....

• The social costs of the issue of substance abuse is the impact it has on the younger generation.  Violence at a young age can ruin a persons perception of right and wrong later in life.  It also takes its toll on adults involved as well.
  

• The only people that could benefit from watching someone abuse drugs and alcohol are the ones who learn their lesson about using them and steer clear.  So a bill that would create more places for people with addiction problems would prevent and educate people about abuse.
  

Barriers...

• A lot of people probably won't see the big picture of prevention and helping abusers and not like the idea of their tax money going to someone else's drug addiction problem.
  
• Advocacy toward the issue.  Campaigns about helping those in need and the affects drug abuse has on innocent bystanders.
  

Resources....

• People with first hand experience to come forward and advocate for this bill, have them discuss the benefits of programs of this type.
  
• Experts on the issue of drug abuse could also talk from a professional perspective on how something like this would benefit everyone involved from the abuser to the tax payers.
  

History of the Issue...

• Duluth, MN has one of the most internationally recognized campaigns about preventing domestic abuse.  Minnesota is a very supportive state and I feel like our state would, for the majority, be in favor a bill like this, that would help out those in need.
  
• Many rehabilitation centers and support centers have been established in the communities, but funding runs out eventually.
  
• Hazelden a local foundation located at a few various locations around the metro has one of the highest success rates in the nation.  My freshmen year my roommate ended up going there for an alcohol problem, she has now been sober for 7 months.  But places like this are NOT cheap. So she had to fight with her insurance constantly to pay for her stay there. So a bill like the one would help people in need that maybe can't afford it.
  

Allies & Opponents

• Allies: People that care about their struggling friends and family members.  Anyone with first hand experience, and someone who knows the benefits of supportive programs.
  
• Opponents: People who think a person's financial burdens and personal problems are their own to deal with.
  

My Recommendation...

• I am in support of this bill and I am a believer in the benefits of supportive programs and outreach to those in need.
  

 Me and my old roommate Savannah, who got the help she needed last year from Hazelden.  She is living proof of the benefits of these types of programs. :)

Pam!