Jim Ramstad: “while the Speaker's announced goal of a drug-free America by 2002 is a laudable one, it is also completely unrealistic…”

“while the Speaker's announced goal of a drug-free America by 2002 is a laudable one, it is also completely unrealistic without a meaningful treatment strategy. We will never even come close to a drug-free America until we knock down the barriers to chemical dependency treatment for 26 million Americans who are currently suffering the ravages of drug and alcohol addiction. Since 1956, the American Medical Association has recognized that alcoholism and drug addiction are a disease. Yet only 2 percent of alcoholics and addicts covered by health insurance plans are receiving treatment, notwithstanding the purported coverage of chemical dependency treatment by these plans. That is because of discriminatory caps, artificially high deductibles and co-payments as well as other restrictions on chemical dependency treatment such as limited treatment stays that are different from other diseases. To reduce illegal drug use in America, we must address the disease of addiction by putting chemical dependency treatment on par with treatment for other diseases. Providing equal access to chemical dependency treatment with treatment for other diseases covered by health plans is not only the smart medical approach, it is also cost effective. It is not only the right thing to do, it is also the cost effective thing to do.”