(Host) One of the leaders of White House drug policy was in Vermont Wednesday.
Dr. Tom McLellan made several stops in the Burlington area, including at Spectrum Youth and Family Services.
VPR’s Lynne McCrea was there for the visit.
(McLellan greeting people)
(McCrea) Dr. McLellan timed his visit to speak at the annual meeting of the New England School of Addiction Studies. But he also wanted to see for himself programs like Spectrum Youth and Family Services, where the staff has been implementing what’s known as "evidence-based" programs.
(McLellan) "There’s a whole science to the prevention, early intervention and treatment of substance abuse disorders. There are things that can reliably prevent your kids from becoming addicted. There are things that can be done for people who drink or use too much to prevent them from becoming addicted. And IF you become addicted, there are medications and therapies that are shown to work – work every bit as effectively as treatments for diabetes, asthma, and other illnesses."
(McCrea) McLellan says the Obama administration has put much more effort into prevention and early intervention programs than has been made in the past. And that effort includes increased funding.
Annie Ramniceanu is clinical director at Spectrum. She says the program has seen more federal funding for substance abuse services – and what she sees as a re-balancing of priorities.
(Ramniceanu) "I think we all know that all these areas – prevention, treatment, recovery, enforcement, have a strong connection to each other. And I think what we’ve learned is – and what science shows us is – over-emphasizing one part of that continuum is really failed policy. And that we need to keep eye on the ball across the spectrum. And they’re all equally important."
(McCrea) Dr. Tom McLellan says that with the new federal health care reform law, attention to substance use disorders will become much more integrated into standard health care settings.
(McLellan) "… Much more aggressive intervention in primary care settings. Much broader availability of medications and these evidence-based treatments where Americans get the rest of their health care. So we expect to expand the availability, and expand the quality of treatment, not just for addiction treatment, but for the rest of health care."
(McCrea) McLellan wrapped up his trip to Vermont with a tour of the Turning Point Club recovery center, in Burlington.
For VPR News, I’m Lynne McCrea.