Pubdate: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 Source: Birmingham News, The (AL) Copyright: 2007 The Birmingham News Contact: http://al.com/birminghamnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45 Author: Kay Phillips TREAT ADDICTION AS PUBLIC-HEALTH CRISIS Everyone has a right to be free from addiction. Recovery from drug addiction is real for many Americans. Tens of thousands more get well every year. There is hope for those still addicted - hope for their families and hope for safer communities - if we treat addiction as the public-health crisis it is. Access to recovery and support services should be readily available to all who seek it. It is long past the time to maximize support for those who are committed to ending active addiction. Why did we decide to take freedom around the world and leave our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, friends and neighbors enslaved by addiction for so very long? Kay Phillips Southside - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake