Addiction counseling is a crucial element in the fight against opioid addiction in Clarkston MI and beyond. From the Detroit News:
Communities need to unite in the battle against opioid addiction and prioritize health over law enforcement to reduce drug overdose deaths, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley said Thursday in Flint.
“Treating addiction just by locking people up has been a spectacular failure,” Calley told hundreds of professionals from government, law enforcement, the courts and addiction services at the “Building a Bridge” conference at Flint’s First Presbyterian Church.
Drug overdose deaths increased 18 percent in Michigan from 2015 to 2016, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. There were 2,335 drug-related deaths statewide in 2016, compared with 1,981 in 2015, and most were related to opioids.
Calley said society needs a “new mindset” about addiction, which is often regarded as a moral failing rather than a health problem. He noted that many people become addicted to pills that were prescribed by their doctor, and said doctors as well as patients need to be better educated on the risks.
People suffering from opioid addiction should be embraced by their communities, rather than stigmatized, he added.“We know for sure that when it comes to powerful narcotics like this its not about will power,” Calley said. “We need to be about softening hearts to some of the things we’ve been hardened about in the past.
“There is no person who is not worth the effort. There are no throw-away people.”
Addiction counseling is seeing a rapid increase in need in Clarkston and surrounding communities. We’re proud that we can serve the community by providing counseling services to those in need – while medical therapy may also be necessary, a major change in life and thought processes is crucial for recovery. If you or someone you love is in need, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
