Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy exists to improve public understanding of alcoholism and drug addiction by serving as a leading national expert on issues related to addiction, treatment and recovery.

Hazelden invites you to join a growing number of people who are dedicating their time, energy and passion to improve public understanding of America's number one health problem: addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy believes understanding starts by putting an accurate face both on the problem and on the answer. Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate. But it is also a disease with a solution-recovery.

Here's what you can do right now to smash the stigma of this illness and promote the power and possibility of recovery.

• If you are a person in recovery, share this with someone in your community who does not know it.
• If you are the family member of someone who has either struggled with addiction or experienced recovery too, share this with someone in your community who does not know it.
• If you work in the treatment field, talk about your successes. Let people know that treatment does work and that people do recover.  

Five principles that support our advocacy efforts "What we believe" 

Although there are many issues surrounding addiction, treatment and recovery, at the core of Hazelden's advocacy and public policy work is a set of guiding principles. They are:

1. Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a chronic illness and a public health problem impacting all Americans.
2. Addiction is a treatable illness with measurable outcomes of success, and Hazelden's model of treatment offers people the best opportunity to find lifelong recovery.
3. Standardized treatment outcomes are integral to ensuring that people receive proper care. These outcomes standards must also help to define the treatment field's role in the continuum of health care services at the state and federal level.
4. All people with addiction disease deserve to find treatment and related services that are appropriate to each person's needs.
5. The stigma of addiction is a major barrier to recovery; access to care is improved by ending discrimination against people with this illness.

Public policies to improve access to addiction treatment and support recovery help to ...

• End discrimination against people who seek treatment. Private health care insurance plans must cover treatment for addiction like they do other major chronic illnesses.
• Identify the problem before it is too late. Medical professionals must make screening for alcohol and other drug problems a routine part of every primary care and emergency room visit.
• Reduce prison and jail overcrowding by giving criminal defendants a chance to overcome their problems.
• Require effective treatment and supervised continuing care programs instead of incarceration for non-violent drug and alcohol offenders.

If you want to know more about Hazelden's public advocacy initiatives, or if you'd like to join the Hazelden Grassroots Network, contact:

Hazelden Center for Public Advocacy
externalaffairs@hazelden.org
651-213-4269