Recovery Advocates Call on U.S. Representatives to Join Addiction Caucus

Faces & Voices of Recovery is organizing recovery and treatment advocates to ask their U.S. Representatives in Congress to join an addiction caucus focused on substance use disorders treatment and recovery, according to a Feb. 7 e-newsletter and action alert.

Founded in 2004, the Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus is designed to educate members of Congress about addiction, recovery, and related public policy issues.

The bi-partisan caucus helps members of the House of Representatives and their staffs work to expand access to care and end what Faces & Voices called “discriminatory policies.”

In the new Congress, the caucus will be co-chaired by Congressman John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio). Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) and Congressman Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) will serve as vice-chairs, according to a Jan. 24 press release (PDF).

“I hope that the efforts of this caucus will play a significant role in all aspects of the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation process,” Ryan said.

This year, Faces & Voices of Recovery wants one-third of the members of the House of Representatives to join the caucus. Faces & Voices is calling on advocates to help them reach that goal.