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Help Us Change the Story of Addiction

We’re harnessing the inherent power of storytelling to lift the voices of those impacted by addiction, illustrate barriers, offer solutions and inspire others to take action.

We’re harnessing the inherent power of storytelling to lift the voices of those impacted by addiction, illustrate barriers, offer solutions and inspire others to take action.

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When we finally realized we needed help for our son, we didn’t expect it to be so difficult to find

Because addiction treatment is separate from the rest of the health care system, finding quality treatment can be challenging.

When my family members needed help, I was told my only option was to go to the police

While police are often the default first responders for mental heath and substance use disorder crises, they lack adequate training and preparation.

My insurance company stopped paying while my son was in treatment

When the insurance company determines that care is no longer medically necessary and denies ongoing payment, patients have to make difficult financial decisions or are forced to stop in the middle of treatment.

Because I am Black, I am more likely to be arrested or go to prison for drug use than receive treatment

Racist drug policies, coupled with systemic racism in the health care and criminal justice systems, have sowed distrust and had devastating consequences on Black and Brown communities.

We weren’t told about addiction when opioids were prescribed

Health care providers often do not discuss the addictive qualities of opioids or inform patients of alternative treatment options.

somber blue flower in half-light

When my son was struggling with substance use and my family needed help supporting him, I was told I was enabling

When families are supporting a loved one struggling with substance use, they’re often given uninformed advice rooted in stigma. There are effective strategies for actively supporting a loved one with addiction, but they aren’t widely available.

An insurance denial led my son to Florida, where he died from an overdose

The Parity Act prohibits discriminatory coverage of mental health and substance use disorder benefits, but insurance companies continue to violate the law.

I was only given one option for recovery

Recovery support services play an important role following treatment, but limited funding can make them inaccessible.

When William needed help, he was repeatedly turned away by hospitals

After reviving a patient who has overdosed, hospital emergency departments often miss an opportunity to engage the patient with substance use disorder treatment.